Diagnostic value of various serum antibodies detected by diverse methods in childhood celiac disease.

The diagnostic performances of antiendomysium IgA detected on monkey esophagus and human umbilical cord smooth muscle, of antireticulin IgA, and of antigliadin IgA and IgG were calculated in 74 children with celiac disease (CD) or other gastrointestinal disorders. We also compared four methods for gliadin antibody detection. With a diagnostic specificity of 100%, diagnostic sensitivity was 94% for antireticulin IgA, 93% for antiendomysium IgA when detected on human umbilical cord smooth muscle, and 97% when detected on monkey esophagus. The diagnostic sensitivity for gliadin antibody was highest with an ELISA procedure, followed by fluorogenic detection (94% for IgG, 91% for IgA, 97% with IgA and IgG combined). Because of its high diagnostic sensitivity and ease and speed of use, the combined antigliadin IgG and IgA antibody assay is suitable for screening large groups of patients. In IgG- or IgA-positive cases, the more demanding and more specific antiendomysium IgA evaluation is required to confirm suspected CD.