Umeå University's logo

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate any potential correlation between anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies of type immunoglobulin A (tTG-IgA) and the degree of gluten induced enteropathy in children participating in a screening study for celiac disease (CD) and to assess to what extent the revised ESPGHAN (European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition) guidelines cover this group of patients.

METHODS: This is a sub-study of a cross-sectional CD screening study, ETICS (Exploring the Iceberg of Celiacs in Sweden), a two-phased study performed during 2005-2006 and 2009-2010. The 13,279 participating children had a blood test obtained and those with positive tTG-IgA were recommended a small intestinal biopsy. The tTG-IgA levels at the time of biopsy were compared with the assessment of the biopsy.

RESULTS: There were 267 children included, of whom 230 were diagnosed with CD. Out of all children, 67 children had low tTG-IgA levels (<5 U/mL), whereof 55% had Marsh 3 lesions. All children with tTG-IgA levels exceeding 10 times the upper limit of normal values of 5 U/mL, i.e. 50 U/mL, were diagnosed with CD. Lowering the cut-off to 3 U/mL, all but one child with 30 U/mL got CD diagnosis.

CONCLUSION: By adapting the revised ESPGHAN criteria, biopsies could have been omitted in a fourth of all cases. Our results indicate, that the criteria might be useful even on screened children. Further studies are needed to confirm whether the 2012 ESPGHAN guidelines should be revised to also apply to the populations being screened.