Value of IgA human recombinant tissue transglutaminase antibody test in diagnosis of symptomatic celiac disease in children

Objective: To identify the value of serological examination in diagnosis of celiac disease in children. Patients and methods: A prospective case series study was conducted at private clinics in Mosul city during the period from 30th of October 2007 to 30 th of October 2009. A total of 40 patients (29 males, 11 females) aged more than 6 months on gluten containing diet presented with symptoms suggestive of celiac disease were screened by serological testing using second generation ELISAs IgA human recombinant tissue transglutaminase antibody. Multiple duodenal biopsies were performed for every patient enrolled in this study regardless of the results of serology. Statistical methods were used to indicate sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values of serological test in comparison to biopsy results. Results: A total of 16 (40%) out of 40 symptomatic patients with mean age of 51 months, demonstrated both positive IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody test and biopsy results for celiac disease, the remaining 24 patients (60%) displayed negative results for both serology and biopsy. IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody test had (100%) specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value in relation to biopsy results. Conclusion: Our results provide additional support to the concept that IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies can be used as a diagnostic serologic marker for celiac disease.