Duodenal biopsy may be avoided when high transglutaminase antibody titers are present.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the predictive value of tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibodies for villous atrophy in adult and pediatric populations to determine if duodenal biopsy can be avoided.


METHODS
A total of 324 patients with celiac disease (CD; 97 children and 227 adults) were recruited prospectively at two tertiary centers. Human IgA class anti-tTG antibody measurement and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were performed at diagnosis. A second biopsy was performed in 40 asymptomatic adults on a gluten-free diet (GFD) and with normal tTG levels.


RESULTS
Adults showed less severe histopathology (26% vs 63%, P < 0.0001) and lower tTG antibody titers than children. Levels of tTG antibody correlated with Marsh type in both populations (r = 0.661, P < 0.0001). Multiple logistic regression revealed that only tTG antibody was an independent predictor for Marsh type 3 lesions, but clinical presentation type and age were not. A cut-off point of 30 U tTG antibody yielded the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.854). Based on the predictive value of this cut-off point, up to 95% of children and 53% of adults would be correctly diagnosed without biopsy. Despite GFDs and decreased tTG antibody levels, 25% of the adults did not recover from villous atrophy during the second year after diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Strongly positive tTG antibody titers might be sufficient for CD diagnosis in children. However, duodenal biopsy cannot be avoided in adults because disease presentation and monitoring are different.
Vivas
Santiago
S
Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital de León, León, Spain. svivasa@medynet.com
Ruiz de Morales
Jose G
JG
Riestra
Sabino
S
Arias
Laura
L
Fuentes
Dolores
D
Alvarez
Noemi
N
Calleja
Sara
S
Hernando
Mercedes
M
Herrero
Blanca
B
Casqueiro
Javier
J
Rodrigo
Luis
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D055050:Diet, Gluten-Free; D004386:Duodenum / Q000473:pathology*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005762:Gastroenterology / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D011503:Transglutaminases