PREVALENCE OF ANTIGLIADIN ANTIBODIES IN D IABETIC (TYPE-1 AND TYPE-2)AND NONDIABETIC ADULT-POPULATIONS

Objectives: The level of circulating antigliadin antibodies is an esse ntial element in diabetic patients with signs of coeliac disease. Into lerance to gluten can disrupt glucose regulation leading to greater ri sk of hypoglycaemia. Search for antigliadin antibodies could be a rout ine test in diabetics. Methods: Plasma gliadin antibodies were measure d by immunoenzymatic assay in adult subjects: 80 type 1 diabetics, 80 type 2 diabetics, 80 non diabetics without auto-immune disease. Result s: IgA antibodies were present in 6 type 1 diabetics (7.5%), 8 type 2 diabetics (10%) and 6 non-diabetics (7.5%). Anti-reticulin and anti-en domysium antibodies were measured in type I diabetics with antigliadin e antibodies. They were present only in one patient (Tunisian) who suf fered from a coeliac disease. Conclusion: In France, the prevalence of coeliac disease is very low. Antigliadin antibodies measurement is ju stified only in patients with clinical and/or biological symptoms of c oeliac disease.