ANTIBODY PATTERN IN CHILDHOOD CELIAC-DISEASE

Background: We carried out a study of the antibody pattern in 50 celia c children [34 females (F) and 16 males (M); F/M, 2.1], ages 7 months- 15 years, compared with that in 25 control subjects (13 females and 12 males) of the same age.Methods: IgA and IgG antigliadin antibodies (A GA) were determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniqu e. IgA anti-R1-reticulin antibodies (ARA) and IgA antiendomysium antib odies (EmA) were determined with the fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjug ate-labeled anti-human immunoglobulin technique. To compare sensitivit y and specificity, EmA were identified using monkey esophagus and huma n umbilical cord as substrates. Results: While AGA (IgA and IgG) showe d a high sensitivity but a low specificity, ARA showed a high specific ity but a low sensitivity. Data on EmA showed a high sensitivity and s pecificity with both tissue sections, with monkey esophagus being mon sensitive (96%) and umbilical cord more specific (100%). Conclusions: Our results confirm the importance of celiac disease-related antibodie s in identifying celiac children. Moreover, the easy availability of h uman umbilical cord indicates that it would be proper to use this tiss ue as substrate, instead of monkey esophagus, for EmA search in the fu ture.