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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: : Iqra Qamar M.D.[2]

Overview

Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of celiac disease include electrolyte abnormalities such as hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, metabolic acidosis, hypoalbuminemia, hypoproteinemia, hypocholesterolemia and low serum carotene level. Hematologic findings include low folate and vitamin B-12 levels, low serum iron level and prothrombin time (PT) prolongation. Stool examination may show fat droplets on Sudan stain and a 72-hour fecal fat collection may be used for documentation of steatorrhea. Genetic testing is usually positive for HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8. Serologic markers include IgA endomysial antibody (IgA EMA), IgA tissue transglutaminase antibody (IgA tTG), IgG tissue transglutaminase antibody (IgG tTG), IgA deamidated gliadin peptide (IgA DGP), and IgG deamidated gliadin peptide (IgG DGP). Serum IgA EMA and IgA tTG have the highest diagnostic accuracy. The IgA and IgG anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) are not recommended for establishing diagnosis because of a high rate of false positive results as compared to IgA tTG and IgA DGP assays.

Laboratory Findings

Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of Celiac disease include:[1]

Electrolyte abnormalities:

Hematologic findings:

Stool examination:

Oral tolerance tests:

  • Breath hydrogen excretion- increased in celiac disease
  • Oral D-xylose tolerance test
    • Decreased urinary D-xylose excretion
    • Decreased peak blood xylose levels

Genetic testing:

Serologic Markers

Serological testing may be divided into 3 groups based on antibodies against respective antigens:

  • IgA endomysial antibody (IgA EMA)
  • Anti-TTG antibody tests
    • IgA tissue transglutaminase antibody (IgA tTG)
    • IgG tissue transglutaminase antibody (IgG tTG)
  • Anti-gliadin antibody tests 
    • IgA deamidated gliadin peptide (IgA DGP)
    • IgG deamidated gliadin peptide (IgG DGP)

IgA endomysial assay:

Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies:

  • These antibodies are directed against the tissue transglutaminase-2 (tTG) antigen.[14]
  • They can be easily detected by ELISA[15]
  • Anti-tTG antibodies have high diagnostic accuracy.[16][17][18][19][20]

Antigliadin antibody assays

  • Anti-gliadin antibody (AGA) tests have low positive predictive value and are not recommended generally.[21]
  • The anti-deamidated gliadin peptide [DGP] assays have higher specificity and are thus preferred over antigliadin antibody (AGA) tests.[22][23]

NOTE:

  • Serum IgA EMA and IgA tTG have the highest diagnostic accuracy.
  • The IgA and IgG antigliadin antibodies (AGA) are not recommended for establishing the diagnosis as they have low accuracy and give a high rate of false positive results when compared with IgA tTG and IgA DGP assays.
  • The anti-deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP) assays also have high diagnostic accuracy.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Antibody testing:

IgA endomysial and IgA tissue transglutaminase antibodies have a sensitivity of more than 95% and a specificity almost 100%. However, variations in results are seen among different laboratories.[2][24][25][22][23][26][27]

Blood antibody tests for coeliac disease
Test sensitivity specificity
IgA enomysial antibody 85 to 98% 97 to 100%
IgA tissue transglutaminase antibody 90 to 98% 95 to 97%
IgA deamidated gliadin peptide 94% 99%
IgG deamidated gliadin peptide 92% 100%
Blood HLA tests for coeliac disease
Test sensitivity specificity
HLA-DQ2 94% 73%
HLA-DQ8 12% 81%


Algorithm for diagnostic testing of Celiac disease

Abbreviations: DGP: deamidated gliadin peptide; HLA: human leukocyte antigen; Ig: immunoglobulin; TTGA: tissue transglutaminase antibody.

Diagnostic testing in low probability celiac disease patients

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Low Probability (<5%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TTGA IgA ± IgA level
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Positive TTGA
 
 
 
 
Negative TTGA
↓ IgA
 
 
 
 
Negative TTGA
Normal IgA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TTGA IgG ± DGP IgG
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If any positive
 
 
 
All negative
 
 
 
 
 
 
Biopsy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Celiac disease unlikely
 
 
 
 
 
 

Diagnostic testing in high probability celiac disease patients

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High probability
(>5%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
• Duodenal biopsy
• TTGA IgG
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Both negative
 
 
 
Both positive
 
 
 
Serology/biopsy disagreement
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Celiac disease unlikely
 
 
 
Celiac disease
 
 
 
Needs
• HLA DQ2 and DQ8 genotyping
•IgA level ± TTGA/DGP IgG
•work up for other causes of villous atrophy

References

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  13. Valeski JE, Kumar V, Beutner EH, Lerner A, Chorzelski TP (1990). "Immunology of celiac disease: tissue and species specificity of endomysial and reticulin antibodies". Int. Arch. Allergy Appl. Immunol. 93 (1): 1–7. PMID 2128295.
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  20. Hopper AD, Hadjivassiliou M, Hurlstone DP, Lobo AJ, McAlindon ME, Egner W, Wild G, Sanders DS (2008). "What is the role of serologic testing in celiac disease? A prospective, biopsy-confirmed study with economic analysis". Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 6 (3): 314–20. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2007.12.008. PMID 18328437.
  21. Corrao G, Corazza GR, Andreani ML, Torchio P, Valentini RA, Galatola G, Quaglino D, Gasbarrini G, di Orio F (1994). "Serological screening of coeliac disease: choosing the optimal procedure according to various prevalence values". Gut. 35 (6): 771–5. PMC 1374876. PMID 8020803.
  22. 22.0 22.1 Sugai E, Vázquez H, Nachman F, Moreno ML, Mazure R, Smecuol E, Niveloni S, Cabanne A, Kogan Z, Gómez JC, Mauriño E, Bai JC (2006). "Accuracy of testing for antibodies to synthetic gliadin-related peptides in celiac disease". Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 4 (9): 1112–7. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2006.05.004. PMID 16860613.
  23. 23.0 23.1 Prince HE (2006). "Evaluation of the INOVA diagnostics enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits for measuring serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA to deamidated gliadin peptides". Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 13 (1): 150–1. doi:10.1128/CVI.13.1.150-151.2006. PMC 1356631. PMID 16426013.
  24. Abrams JA, Brar P, Diamond B, Rotterdam H, Green PH (2006). "Utility in clinical practice of immunoglobulin a anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody for the diagnosis of celiac disease". Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 4 (6): 726–30. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2006.02.010. PMID 16630760.
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