GOBLET CELL AUTOANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE AND THEIR FIRST-DEGREE RELATIVES

Background & Aims: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis show a famil ial aggregation. In both diseases, anti-goblet cell autoantibodies (GA Bs) have been described. The aim of this study was to define the role of GABs in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: Th e study population comprised 61 patients with ulcerative colitis, 76 p atients with Crohn's disease, 101 first-degree relatives of patients w ith ulcerative colitis, and 105 first-degree relatives of patients wit h Crohn's disease. Thirty-five patients with infectious enterocolitis and 56 healthy unrelated subjects sewed as controls. Autoantibodies we re detected by indirect immunofluorescence. Results: Thirty-nine perce nt of patients with ulcerative colitis (24 of 61) and 30% of patients with Crohn's disease (23 of 76) were positive for GABs. GABs were dete cted in 21% (21 of 101) of first-degree relatives of patients with ulc erative colitis and in 19% (20 of 105) of first-degree relatives of pa tients with Crohn's disease, In patients with infectious enterocolitis and in healthy controls, GABs were seen in 3% (1 of 35) and 2% (1 of 56), respectively. The differences between control groups and both gro ups of patients or their first-degree relatives were significant. Conc lusions: The high prevalence in first-degree relatives suggests that G ABs may represent a marker characterizing susceptibility to inflammato ry bowel disease.