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Antibodies to gliadin by ELISA as a screening test for childhood celiac disease
Insights
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing for antigliadin antibodies (AGA) is a useful screening tool for childhood celiac disease (CD). High levels of IgA and IgG class AGA were detected in children diagnosed with CD.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Diagnostic Testing
Background:
- Childhood celiac disease (CD) diagnosis relies on invasive procedures.
- Accurate and accessible screening methods are needed for early detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting antigliadin antibodies (AGA) as a screening tool for childhood celiac disease.
Main Methods:
- Sera from 309 children undergoing jejunal biopsy were tested for IgA and IgG class AGA using ELISA.
- Results were compared between children with confirmed CD and those with normal intestinal mucosa.
Main Results:
- Ninety percent of children with CD showed elevated IgA AGA, and 94% showed elevated IgG AGA.
- Elevated AGA levels were also found in a subset of children without CD, highlighting the need for confirmatory testing.
Conclusions:
- ELISA-based AGA testing is a valuable and suitable screening method for identifying children at risk for celiac disease.
- AGA testing can aid in the early identification of childhood celiac disease, potentially reducing the need for immediate invasive procedures.
Abstract:
The sera of 309 children who were subjected to jejunal biopsy were tested for antigliadin antibodies (AGA) with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in order to evaluate the usefulness of this test as a screening test for childhood celiac disease (CD). Thirty-one children had flat intestinal mucosa later confirmed to be due to CD. Ninety percent of these children had significantly elevated levels of IgA class AGA and 94% had significantly elevated levels of IgG class AGA as compared to standard references. Two hundred and seventy-eight children had normal villous structure. In this group, 37 children out of 271 (seven excluded because of selective IgA deficiency) had elevated levels of IgA class AGA, and 93 children out of 278 had elevated levels of IgG class AGA. We conclude that ELISA-AGA is suitable as a screening test for childhood CD.