RESUMO
Background: Celiac serology has evolved, with the identification of newer antibodies against deamidated gliadin peptides (DGP) [e.g., anti-DGP, immunoglobulin A (IgA), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) types] with sensitivity and specificity in detecting celiac disease (CeD) that are equivalent to anti-tissue transglutaminase [anti-tissue transglutaminase (TTG) IgA]-based tests, particularly in populations with high pretest probability of CeD (prevalence of CeD > 50% of the population under study). This opens the possibility that anti-DGP assays can be used to identify CeD in the general population where the prevalence of CeD is very low (≈1%). Objective: This study aimed (1) to determine the diagnostic performance of DGP antibodies-based serologic assays in identifying CeD during the screening of the general population and (2) to compare the levels of anti-DGP antibodies among CeD patients with mild and severe degrees of enteropathy. Methods: Serology tests for DGP antibodies (DGP-IgA, DGP-IgG, and conjugate TTG/DGP antibodies) were performed on 104 serum samples of positive TTG-IgA (100 confirmed and four potential celiac patients) and a randomly selected 1,000 negative TTG-IgA serum samples collected during mass screening of children (aged 6-15 years) in 2014-2015. Results: Sera from 32 of the 1,000 TTG-IgA negative serum specimens (3.2%) tested positive for one or more of the three anti-DGP serology tests. A total of 13 of the 32 anti-DGP seropositive patients had persistent positive results on follow-up samples in 2020 (1.3%). Eight of the 13 underwent endoscopy with biopsies, and only two had confirmed CeD (both DGP-IgG positive) (0.2%). The sensitivity and specificity of the serology assays were as follows: DGP-IgA (62.7%, 40%), DGP-IgG (80.4%, 100%), and conjugate TTG/DGP (96%, 10%). Based on receiver operating characteristic curves, the area under the curve for DGP-IgG (0.919; 95% CI -0.00406 to 0.114) was comparable to TTG-IgA (0.974; 95% CI 0.924-0.995) (P = 0.0679). Titers of antibodies to DGPs were significantly higher in children with severe intestinal damage than in those in children with mild lesions (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The TTG-IgA assay remains the most reliable screening serology test for CeD in mass screening studies. The performance of TTG-IgA has improved marginally by adding DGP-IgG to the mass screening protocol. In CeD patients detected by mass screening, the anti-DGP antibody titer was significantly higher among patients with a severe degree of enteropathy as compared to the group with mild enteropathy.
RESUMO
Background: There are only a few case reports and small case series on neonatal-onset Dubin-Johnson syndrome (DJS), particularly from Far-East Asia, Iranian and Moroccan Jews, and Europe. Objectives: In this first study from the Arabs and the largest series reported to date, we characterized the clinical, laboratory, and molecular features and outcome of gene-confirmed neonatal-onset DJS. Methods: We reviewed our database of 533 cases of neonatal cholestasis that presented to our center during the period from 2008 to 2019. We identified neonates with a disease-causing mutation in ABCC2 gene. Results: Twenty-eight neonates with DJS were diagnosed (5.3%). All of the 28 were full-term, well looking neonates without hepatosplenomegaly, with cholestasis, and normal liver synthetic function since the 1 week of life that resolved within 3-6 months of age, followed by a benign course punctuated by recurrent episodes of jaundice in 43% during a median follow up period of 9.25 (range 2.5-14 years). Alanine aminotransferase levels were within normal range in 26 patients (92%) and mildly elevated in two patients. ALT levels were significantly lower in neonates with DJS than in other cases with neonatal cholestasis from other causes (p < 0.001). The median urinary coproporphyrin I% was 88% (IQ1-IQ3 = 84.2-92.7%). We identified four homozygous variants in the ABCC2 gene (from 22 unrelated families), one splicing variant (c.3258+1G>A; p.?), and three were missense variants; two of which were novel missense variants [c.1594G>A (p.Glu532Lys) and c.2439G>C (p.Lys813Asn)]. The p.Gly758Val mutation has occurred in 23 patients (from 19 unrelated families). Conclusions: Our study suggests that normal ALT-cholestasis in a well-looking neonate should trigger evaluation for DJS. The p.Gly758Val variant in ABCC2 is the most predominant mutation among Arabs with "founder effects." Identification of the predominant ABCC2 variant in any population is likely to facilitate rapid molecular analysis by future targeting of that specific mutation.