The diagnostic value of serological markers for the diagnosis of gluten sensitive enteropathy in Syria

Abstract EN

Objectives : Analyzing the diagnostic efficacy of three serological markers of celiac disease: IgA anti-gliadin (AGA- IgA), IgG anti-gliadin (AGA-IgG), and IgA anti-endomysium (EMA-IgA) antibodies.

Methods :We studied 64 serum samples from 3 groups of patients: celiac patients on a gluten- challenge diet, celiac patients on a gluten-free diet, and a control group.

All individuals assayed were from the Gastroenterology Section of the Children's University Hospital and the Assad University Hospital in Damascus, Syria.

: Result;The anti-gliadin and anti-endomysium antibody levels were significantly higher among the gluten- consuming celiac patients than in the other groups.

The greatest efficacy in diagnosing celiac disease was achieved in the EMA-class test.

The IgG-class anti-gliadin antibodies were more specific, with a higher positive test predictive value than the IgA-class anti-gliadin antibodies, whereas the latter showed to be more sensitive, with a higher negative test predictive value.

Conclusion : Our results also demonstrate that the simultaneous assessment of anti-gliadin IgA- and IgG-class antibodies constitutes a valid method of selecting patients suspected of having celiac disease.

In turn, the assessment of EMA-IgA antibodies constitutes a confirmative test for indication for intestinal biopsy.