RESULTS OF CELIAC-DISEASE SCREENING IN ESTONIA IN 1990-1994

In the period 1990-94, 2895 individuals (629 children with suspicion o f coeliac disease selected throughout Estonia; 700 consecutively hospi talized children; 105 children with atopic dermatitis; 1461 inhabitant s of a small Estonian town) were serologically screened for coeliac di sease. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used for antigliadin antibody determinations and R1-type antireticulin antibodies were dete cted using an indirect immunofluorescence method. Coeliac disease was diagnosed according to recent criteria recommended by the European Soc iety for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. Antigliadin antibo dy testing was positive in 44 (3.1%) of 1434 children studied, and in 33 of whom coeliac disease was confirmed. In all the coeliac patients R1-type antireticulin antibody test was positive. However, 52 (3.5%) o f 1461 adults studied who did not have coeliac disease had positive an tigliadin antibody test but negative antireticulin antibody test. Thus , in Estonia, the antigliadin antibody test can be used in screening f or coeliac disease in children but not in adults.