[Usefulness of anti-transglutaminase antibodies in the diagnosis of celiac disease].
BACKGROUND
Anti-transglutaminase antibodies have been proposed as a useful tool in the diagnosis and follow-up of celiac disease.


OBJECTIVE
To compare anti-transglutaminase antibodies with the classical antibodies used to diagnose celiac disease.


METHODS
Patients who underwent duodenal biopsy for suspected celiac disease were selected if they had the following serum antibody samples: antiendomysial IgA, anti-transglutaminase IgA, antigliadin IgG, and antigliadin IgA. A diagnostic value of each of these antibodies was established according to the final diagnosis, taking the duodenal biopsy as the reference.


RESULTS
One hundred twenty-two patients with duodenal biopsy and serologic markers for celiac disease were selected. Thirty-six patients were children (< 14 years-old) and 86 were adults. A diagnosis of celiac disease was made in 41 patients (26 children and 15 adults). Of the 15 adults, only 2 (13%) presented typical malabsorption syndrome. The sensitivity and specificity of anti-transglutaminase antibodies was 100% and 98% respectively compared with values of 97% and 98% for antiendomysial IgA, 85% and 97% for antigliadin IgA, and 97% and 92% for antigliadin IgG antibodies.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnostic value of anti-transglutaminase antibodies is high in celiac disease. These antibodies may be useful as a screening test to select candidates for duodenal biopsy.
Fernández
M L
ML
Sección de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital de León, León, Spain.
Vivas
S
S
Ruiz de Morales
J M
JM
Marugán
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001284:Atrophy; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001706:Biopsy; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004386:Duodenum / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D005903:Gliadin / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D005903:Gliadin; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D011503:Transglutaminases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins