title: Tissue transglutaminase and endomysial autoantibodies measured in an historical cohort of children and young adults in whom coeliac disease was suspected.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether anti-endomysial and anti-transglutaminase antibodies are relevant important markers of coeliac disease in an historical group of patient sera.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sera from 196 children suspected to suffer from coeliac disease were analysed for these antibodies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 233 serum samples were obtained simultaneously with a biopsy. Coeliac disease was confirmed in 37 (19%) patients. Antibodies against guinea pig transglutaminase were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); endomysial antibodies were determined by immunofluorescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 17 samples, immunoglobulin A (IgA) anti-transglutaminase levels were increased; 16 of these came from coeliac patients. High levels correlated with high prediagnostic or challenge-related gluten intake. The additional anti-transglutaminase-positive patient was assumed to suffer from sequelae to gastroenteritis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Raised IgA anti-transglutaminase levels were correlated with presence of coeliac disease. Negative tests were seen in some coeliac patients when on a gluten-containing diet. The IgA anti-transglutaminase test using guinea pig antigen was less sensitive than anti-endomysial antibodies but rather specific for active coeliac disease. In our study, anti-endomysial antibodies were more specific than anti-transglutaminase antibodies for active coeliac disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Autoimmunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark. weile@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Birgitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weile
authors.forename: Niels H H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Heegaard
authors.forename: Mimi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Høier-Madsen
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiik
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Krasilnikoff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D011503:Transglutaminases