Anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies in peripheral neuropathy and motor neuronopathy.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to investigate the occurence of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA) in peripheral nerve disorders, and to correlate them with neurophysiologic findings and anti-glycolipid antibodies.


METHODS
We examined tTGA immunoglobulin-A serum level from 220 patients with polyneuropathy (acute inflammatory: n=90; chronic inflammatory: n=56; non-inflammatory: n=74) and 110 with motor neuron disease (MND).


RESULTS
Seven of the 330 neurologic patients (2.1%, six with polyneuropathy and one with MND) were positive for tTGA. Sixty-one of the 330 neurologic patients (18.4%) had slightly increased tTGA values compared with healthy controls. Increased tTGA values were associated with greater impairment of neurophysiologic findings, but not with the presence of anti-glycolipid antibodies.


CONCLUSIONS
We found a high prevalence of tTGA reactivity in patients with peripheral nerve disorders or MND. However, we were unable to demonstrate an increased risk of celiac disease in these diseases.
Matà
S
S
Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. masa@unifi.it
Renzi
D
D
Pinto
F
F
Calabrò
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D006017:Glycolipids; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D011503:Transglutaminases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins