Adult endomysial antibody-negative coeliac disease and cigarette smoking

To determine the relative incidence and characteristics of endomysial antibody (EMA)-negative coeliac disease in adults.

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on adults with newly diagnosed coeliac disease, with determination of EMA status before gluten withdrawal.

District general hospital (secondary care institution).

Sixty consecutive incident cases.

(i) Proportion of cases who were EMA-negative; (ii) comparison of clinical and laboratory variables at diagnosis for EMA-positive and EMA-negative subjects.

Fifteen subjects (25%, 95% CI 15-38%) were EMA negative, of whom only two were IgA deficient. There was clinical evidence in all 15 patients and histological evidence in 13 patients of a response to gluten withdrawal. No significant differences were found between EMA-positive and EMA-negative subjects with respect to histological features, age, gender, clinical manifestations, concurrent autoimmune disorders, family history of coeliac disease, or haemoglobin and albumin concentrations at diagnosis. However, EMA-negative status at diagnosis was associated strongly with current or recent cigarette smoking (OR 7.0, 95% CI 1.7-31.5, P= 0.003).

A substantial minority of patients with otherwise typical coeliac disease are EMA negative, and most of these are IgA replete. The value of EMA as a screening tool is therefore limited. EMA status in untreated coeliac disease correlates strongly with cigarette smoking history: this may be of pathogenic significance, given the previously demonstrated association between smoking and the risk of coeliac disease.