Decrease of antigliadin antibodies and beta-2 microglobulin in coeliac children according to their age

Abstract

The measurement of antigliadin antibodies of IgG-class (AGA-G), IgA-class (agA-A) and serie beta-2 microglobulin (B-2m) had previously been proposed as a help in the diagnosis of coeliac disease. In the present work are included 48 sera from 33 active coeliac children with subtotal villous atrophy. A negative correlation between the patients age and the levels of AGA-G (p < 0,05), AGA-A (p <0,05) and B-2m (p < 0,01) was found. There was not significant differences between the results obtained at the diagnosis moment or during the challenge test, although they had a light decrease. Several factors contribute to the intensity of immune response to gluten, and the patients age is one of these. The results show the need of taking into account the age of coeliac children before interpreting
data of AGA or B-2m.