Endomysium antibodies in the diagnosis of celiac disease in short-staturedchildren with no gastrointestinal symptoms

Background: Endomysium antibodies (EmAb) are strongly associated with untre ated celiac disease and are suggested to be diagnostic. The aim of the pres ent study was to assess the value of anti-EmAb for celiac disease screening in children with short stature. Methods: In 84 children with height less than the third percentile for age, preliminary work-ups were made to find a cause for their short stature and then their serum was assayed for anti-EmAb by indirect immunofluorescence tests using monkey esophagus. Results: Seven children were strongly positive for EmAb and all had positiv e histologic findings for celiac disease. Conclusions: Our results show that there is an association with occult celi ac disease and idiopathic short stature and that the serum anti-EmAb test i s useful in identifying such cases.