ANTIPEPTIDE ANTIBODIES TO ADENOVIRUS E1B PROTEIN INDICATE ENHANCED RISK OF CELIAC-DISEASE AND DERMATITIS-HERPETIFORMIS

The relationship between adenovirus type 12 (Ad12), celiac disease (CD ) and dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) was evaluated by enzyme-linked imm unosorbent assay (ELISA). Diagnostic phase serum samples from 44 child ren with CD, 16 children with DH and 60 matched controls were studied for serum antibodies to synthetic peptides derived from an early E1b p rotein of Ad12 and A gliadin. Both the patient groups had significantl y (p < 0.01) higher IgG antibody levels to the Ad12 E1b peptide than t he controls. The difference was especially pronounced for girls (p < 0 .005). Antipeptide IgG antibodies to Ad12 E1b and A gliadin posed a sy nergistic increase in the CD and DH risk suggesting that infection wit h Ad12 is associated with CD and DH.