Diagnostic Accuracy of IGA Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase Antibody Testing in Celiac Disease

Contemporary guidelines for the first-line diagnosis of celiac disease recommend determination of IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies or IgA antiendomysial antibodies, as well as total serum IgA antibodies. The aim of our study was to assess the validity and clinical significance of serological testing for IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies in the diagnosis of celiac disease, and to investigate the presence of malabsorption symptoms in celiac patients. IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody testing was performed in 50 subjects with clinically suspected celiac disease (21 men and 29 women). All subjects underwent endoscopy with small intestine biopsy. Celiac disease was confirmed by histopathological findings in four subjects, whereas the IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase test was positive in three subjects. The IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase test showed sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 100%. There were significant differences between men with biopsy-confirmed and excluded celiac disease in the erythrocyte parameters MCV (96.5±7.7 vs. 78.6 ±11.3; p<0.05), MCH (36.9±4.6 vs. 25.9±4.9; p<0.01), and MCHC (382.5±16.3 vs. 326.9±19.1; p<0.005), as well as in the levels of total protein (47.5 ±16.3 vs. 68.3 ± 7.6; p<0.01) and albumins (24.6±9.5 vs. 42.1 ± 6.9; p<0.01). In addition, HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly lower in men with biopsy-confirmed celiac disease (0.42.±0.12 vs. 0.90±0.30; p<0.05). Our results show a high correlation between IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase testing and endoscopy with biopsy as the gold diagnostic standard.