Anti-reticulin antibody in jejunal juice in coeliac disease.

Anti-reticulin antibody has been demonstrated in the jejunal juice of eight out of fourteen (57%) untreated coeliac patients, one out of twelve (8%) patients with normal jejunal biopsies and none of ten normal control subjects. The jejunal juice antibody was invariably of the IgA class. It is suggested that the presence of anti-reticulin antibody in the jejunal juice in coeliac disease supports the hypothesis that this antibody is secreted in response to reticulin antigens present in the diet.