[Serological diagnosis of celiac disease: anti-gliadin peptide antibodies and tissue anti-transglutaminase]. / Diagnóstico serológico de la enfermedad celíaca: anticuerpos anti-péptidos de síntesis de gliadina y anti-transglutaminasa de tejido.

Serological markers currently used for the diagnosis of celiac disease are anti-gliadin (AG) and anti-endomysium (AE) antibodies. Recently tissue transglutaminase (tTG) was identified as the specific autoantigen for endomysial antibodies. The aim of this work was to determine sensitivity and specificity of ELISA tests developed by using defined molecular structures as capture antigen for AG and AE antibodies. Three synthetic peptides, from the amino terminal region of alpha gliadin, were used as immobilized antigens for AG, and the transglutaminase from guinea pig liver for AE. A total of 80 sera from celiac patients, non celiac disease controls and healthy controls were examined. Age range was 7 months to 14 years. A sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 86% was obtained for IgG determined by using as antigen one of the three synthetic peptides (corresponding to residues 31-55 of alpha gliadin). Therefore, this peptide appears as a highly sensitive antigen and more specific than gliadin. The best result, showing 100% of sensitivity and specificity, was obtained for IgA anti-tTG, thus pointing out the relevance of these antibodies as serological markers for celiac disease.

Diagnóstico serológico de la enfermedad celíaca: anticuerpos anti-péptidos de síntesis de gliadina y anti-transglutaminasa de tejido. / [Serological diagnosis of celiac disease: anti-gliadin peptide antibodies and tissue anti-transglutaminase]

Serological markers currently used for the diagnosis of celiac disease are anti-gliadin (AG) and anti-endomysium (AE) antibodies. Recently tissue transglutaminase (tTG) was identified as the specific autoantigen for endomysial antibodies. The aim of this work was to determine sensitivity and specificity of ELISA tests developed by using defined molecular structures as capture antigen for AG and AE antibodies. Three synthetic peptides, from the amino terminal region of alpha gliadin, were used as immobilized antigens for AG, and the transglutaminase from guinea pig liver for AE. A total of 80 sera from celiac patients, non celiac disease controls and healthy controls were examined. Age range was 7 months to 14 years. A sensitivity of 97

and a specificity of 86

was obtained for IgG determined by using as antigen one of the three synthetic peptides (corresponding to residues 31-55 of alpha gliadin). Therefore, this peptide appears as a highly sensitive antigen and more specific than gliadin. The best result, showing 100

of sensitivity and specificity, was obtained for IgA anti-tTG, thus pointing out the relevance of these antibodies as serological markers for celiac disease.