Specificity of antiendomysial antibodies for the diagnosis of coeliac disease: comparison to antigliadin antibodies

Abstract

The antigliadin antibodies (AGA) are increased in no-treated coeliac patients. Its determination has been proposed for diagnostical aims and for carrying out the intestinal biopsy at proper time. Nevertheless, its specificity is insuficient, and high levels af class IgA AGA were also reported in other diseases. We founded it in the Berger's nephropathy (5/7), in Henoch-Schonlein purpura (23/28) and JRA with positive class IgA RF (9/10). The diagnostical value of AGA is compared to one of IgA class antiendomysial antibodies (EmA), in the present article. These antibodies were positive in 17/19 active coeliac patients and in 2/18 coeliac in gluten-free diet. The results of EmA were concordant with IgA class AGA in 68% active coeliac and in 61% gluten-free patients. The EmA were negative in the 28 non-coeliac patients with positive AGA. These results prove the high diagnostical specificity of EmA and suggest that the gluten do not play any role nor in JRA, Berger's nephropathy, neither Henoch-Schonlein purpura. KEY
WORDS: COELIADCI SEASE. hTIGL1ADlN ANTIBODIES. ANTIENDOMYSAIANTLL BODIES. JRA.
BERGER'SN EPHROPATHY.