| Abstract: | ![]()
The aim of this study was to investigateanti-gliadin (IgA-AGA and IgG-AGA), endomysial(IgA-EmA), and anti-reticulin (Ig-ARA) antibodies formonitoring celiac disease (CD) patients while ongluten-free and gluten-containing diets. Sera from 30confirmed CD patients (13 boys, 17 girls), 1-24 yearsold, were examined for antibodies using ELISA (AGA) andImmunofluorescence (EmA, ARA) at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months following institution of gluten-freediet and also at 3 and 6 months after challenge withgluten. One month following the exclusion of gluten fromthe diet, most antibodies are still positive.Twenty-three to 43% of antibodies remained positive by theend of the third month. At 6 and 9 months, 17% and 10%were positive, respectively. At 12 months no positiveantibodies were detected. After gluten challenge, positive IgA-AGA and IgA-EmA titers werealready demonstrated at 3 months (90% and 86%,respectively), while Ig-ARA titers showed a slowincrease. Finally IgG-AGA responded with a slow decreaseof titers to gluten-free diet levels and a fast increaseupon provocation. The morphology of the intestine atdiagnosis and during the periods of gluten-free diet andgluten challenge corresponds with the antibody titers. On the basis of these results,immunological markers may be applied to follow-up CDpatients. IgA-AGA and IgA-EMA appear to be the mostsensitive to dietary changes in gluten and correlatebest with intestinal mucosal morphology. |
