Serological and clinical comparison of children and adults with anti-endomysial antibodies

J Clin Immunol. 2007 Mar;27(2):163-71. doi: 10.1007/s10875-006-9062-y. Epub 2007 Jan 23.

Abstract

We compared serological and clinical presentation of 38 adults (5 males, 33 females) and 37 children (15 boys, 22 girls) with anti-endomysial antibodies (AEA).AEA, antinuclear (ANA), anti-parietal (APA), anti-thyroid microsomal (ATMA), anti-thyreoglobulin (ATGA), anti-smooth muscle (SMA) and anti-mitochondrial (AMA) antibodies were detected by IIF. Anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG), anti-extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) and anti-actin (AAA) antibodies were studied by ELISA. There were no differences in frequency of ANA, APA, ATGA, SMA, AMA and AAA in children and adults. ATMA (p < 0.001) and anti-ENA (p < 0.05) positivity were more frequently found in adults. Anti-Ro/SSA had 7/38 adults and 1/37 children (p < 0.05). Adults had more frequently silent form of celiac disease associated with autoimmune diseases (p < 0.001). We are the first to demonstrate that in spite of no difference in ANA positivity in adults and children, ANA in adults more frequently target ENA, especially Ro/SSA antigen. The reason for this ANA specificity could be the longer gluten exposure in adults.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / blood
  • Autoimmune Diseases / complications
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Celiac Disease / blood*
  • Celiac Disease / complications
  • Celiac Disease / immunology*
  • Child
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A / blood
  • Male
  • Sex Factors

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunoglobulin A