Original article
English
Ashabani A, Errabtea H, Shapan A, Tuckova L, Tlaskalova-Hogenova H.
Department of Immunology and Gnotobiology, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic. aashabani@hotmail.com
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2001 Sep;33(3):276-82.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are, as yet, no data available about the incidence of celiac disease in Libya. The aim of this study was to test the occurrence of serologic markers in a group of Libyan children with positive clinical and histologic findings indicative of celiac disease diagnosis. METHODS: Thirty-nine children with untreated celiac disease and 50 healthy school children, all younger than 14 years, were included in the study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A (IgA) antigliadin, antitissue transglutaminase, and anticalreticulin antibodies was used to evaluate the serologic markers of the celiac patients. Immunoglobulin A antiendomysial antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence using human umbilical cord tissue. RESULTS: Clinical symptoms at presentation were weight loss (82%), abdominal distension (61.5%), diarrhea or steatorrhea (59%), pallor (41%), abdominal pain (20.5%), constipation (15%), vomiting (10%), and short stature (7.7%). Most of these symptoms disappeared after introduction of a gluten-free diet. Of 39 patients, only 23 (59%) were endomysium positive and positive also in all other serologic markers. The second group of patients with positive clinical and biopsy findings but antiendomysial antibody-negative findings was subdivided into two subgroups according to the IgA antigliadin antibody results. Individuals in the IgA gliadin-negative subgroup also lacked IgA autoantibodies. CONCLUSIONS: The authors’ findings stress the importance of serologic testing not only for screening but also for confirmation of celiac disease.
Keywords: Serologic markers of untreated celiac disease in Libyan children: antigliadin, antitransglutaminase, antiendomysial, and anticalreticulin antibodies.
Link/DOI: http://www.jpgn.org/pt/re/jpgn/abstract.00005176-200109000-00009.htm;jsessionid=H7BHyzc1VQzl2hyhQGx02MwrPGTdM952zzTsGrbPy6pPJ2yZvMwW!1600246195!181195629!8091!-1