Abstract
Coeliac disease is associated with gluten intolerance in genetically predisposed subjects. Environmental factors, particularly of viral origin, may also play a major role. In this study, the presence of IgA class anti-endomysium antibodies (AEA-IgA), IgA class anti-reticulin antibodies (ARA-IgA) and IgA class anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA-IgA) was investigated in 120 serum samples from 120 children (60 patients with coeliac disease and 60 control subjects). The AEA were detected by indirect immunofluorescence on sections of human umbilical cord. The ARA were also investigated by the same technique in rat kidney, liver and stomach. The AGA were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In the patients with coeliac disease, the sensitivity of AEA and ARA was 85% and 76% respectively. In both cases, the specificity was 100%. in children below two years of age, the sensitivity of AEA and ARA was too low, i.e., 57% and 35% respectively In children aged between two and 15 years, the sensitivity of AEA and ARA was 95% and 89% respectively. The sensitivity of IgA class AGA was 86%, and their specificity was 83%. in this study population, these results show that IgA class AEA are interesting markers for the diagnosis of coeliac disease in the child, and could be used in screening for coeliac disease in a high-risk population. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.