Correlation of Tissue Transglutaminase with Modified Marsh Grading in Celiac Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study.
OBJECTIVE
To find out correlation between serum anti-tissue transglutaminase immunoglobulin-A (tTGA) levels and Marsh grading on duodenal histopathology in Celiac disease (CD).


METHODS
In a prospective cohort study, a total of 52 symptomatic patients between age group of 2-18 y were enroled. All enroled patients were subjected to upper GI endoscopy by an experienced endoscopist. Two biopsies each from the bulb (D1) and second part (D2) of the duodenum were taken and Marsh grading was performed by a single experienced pathologist. Serum tTGA levels were also performed to find out correlation between serum tTGA levels and Marsh grading.


RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 8.21 ± 3.45 y (Range: 2-16 y). Anemia was the most common non-gastrointestinal (GI) sign and was present in 73% of the cases. However the authors could not find out any significant association between Marsh grading and hemoglobin levels (r = 0.32, p > 0.05). Serum tTGA levels were found to be positively correlated with Marsh grading (Spearmen correlation coefficient ρ = 0.74, p 0.000). Significant differences were found in tTGA levels between different Marsh gradings (ANOVA test) (p 0.000). Receiver-operator curve (ROC) analysis cut-off value of serum tTGA for predicting villous atrophy was 178.8 (nine times of cut-off value) with sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 85.7%.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum tTGA levels can be used to predict villous atrophy and biopsy may be avoided in strongly suspected cases with more than 9 times of cut-offs.
Department of Pediatrics, Umaid Hospital for Women and Children, Dr. S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342003, India. jorarakesh@gmail.com.
Rakesh
R
Jora
Department of Pediatrics, Umaid Hospital for Women and Children, Dr. S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342003, India.
Vikrant
V
Raghuvanshi
Department of Pediatrics, Umaid Hospital for Women and Children, Dr. S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342003, India.
Vikas
V
Payal
Department of Pediatrics, Umaid Hospital for Women and Children, Dr. S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342003, India.
Pramod
P
Sharma
Department of Pediatrics, Umaid Hospital for Women and Children, Dr. S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342003, India.
Shree Krishan
SK
Vishnoi
D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004386:Duodenum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
D006454:Hemoglobins; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D011503:Transglutaminases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins
Celiac disease; Marsh grading; Tissue transglutaminase; Upper GI endoscopy