Value of antigliadin antibodies (AGA) in latent coeliac disease (CD).
BACKGROUND
The term latent coeliac disease (CD) is applied to patients who were previously shown to have a normal jejunal mucosa on a free diet. The aim of this study was to determine whether a high AGA value in the serum of patients with coeliac symptoms can also be regarded by itself, without typical mucosal atrophy, as a marker of latent CD, as some authors suggest in relatives of celiac patients.


METHODS
We observed 31 patients with suspected CD and pathological values of serum IgA ang IgG AGA. In all we performed intestinal biopsy, assayed antiendomisium antibodies (AEA) in serum, AGA IgA, IgG, and IgM in duodenal jejunal fluid and in some of the lymphocytcs CD3+ gamma/delta+ in the lamina propria of the intestinal mucosa.


RESULTS
In this study only pathological values of serum AGA without mucosa atrophy don't seem to be markers of latent CD, but an aspecific allergic response.


CONCLUSIONS
As shown by other authors serum AEA, intestinal fluid AGA IgM and lamina propria lymphocytes CD3+ gamma/delta+ seem markers of latent CD.
Barbato
M
M
Servizio Speciale di Gastroenterologia, Istituto Clinica Pediatrica, Università La Sapienza, Roma.
Miglietta
M R
MR
Viola
F
F
Uccini
S
S
Bosco
S
S
Dito
L
L
Lo Russo
L
L
Formisano
M
M
Lucarelli
S
S
Frediani
T
T
Cardi
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005903:Gliadin / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male
D000906:Antibodies; D005903:Gliadin