Cell-mediated autoimmunity in coeliac disease

Lymphocyte transformation in response to a crude freeze-dried prepartion of whole jejunal mucosa was studied in fifteen patients with coeliac disease and compared with the findings in fifteen age-matched controls. The transformation ratio was markedly increased in three patients. These observations suggest the possible existence of cell-mediated autoimmunity to jejunal mucosa in some patients with coeliac disease and might be relevant to the development of some of the complications of the disease.