[IgA-class antigliadin antibodies in the screening and follow-up of celiac disease patients]

Pediatr Med Chir. 1992 Sep-Oct;14(5):517-9.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

IgA antigliadin antibodies (IgA-AGA) have been determined with an enzyme immunoassay in 2.141 pediatric patients. High levels of IgA were found in 98% of 53 celiac patients (1st biopsy), in 81% of 16 celiac patients after gluten challenge, while high levels of these antibodies were not found in 200 patients on gluten-free diet. Moreover high levels of IgA-AGA were found in 29% of 48 patients with normal jejunal biopsy and in 4% of 1.824 patients with gastrointestinal problems other than celiac disease. Our results confirm the data report in literature about the sensibility and the specificity of the IgA-AGA dosage as a screening test for celiac disease, but the possibility of false pathological and false normal values confirms the intestinal biopsy, as the main procedure for the diagnosis of celiac disease.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / blood*
  • Celiac Disease / diagnosis*
  • Celiac Disease / epidemiology
  • Celiac Disease / immunology
  • Child
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / statistics & numerical data
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gliadin / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A / blood*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Gliadin