IMMUNOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF CELIAC DISEASE IN SYMPTOMATIC CHILDREN IN KIRKUK GOVERNORATE

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to estimate the occurrence of the celiac diseaseamong clinically suspected children using immunoglobulin antibodies against gliadin(IgA and IgG-AGA) and against human tissue transglutaminase (IgA and IgG-tTG) asscreening method. The study included 60 children with signs and symptoms suggested tohave celiac disease (average age 36 months) who attended the Children's Hospital/Kirkuk during the period from November/ 2011 until March/ 2012 and 30 apparentlyhealthy children (average age 45 months) were chosen as a control group. Negativeresults were obtained in 33 (55.0%) clinically suspected children and 30 (100%) ofcontrol children. Positive results included antigliadin antibodies (IgA-AGA and IgGAGAor both) in 27 (45.0%) patients and tissue transglutaminase (IgA-tTG and IgGtTGor both) in 10 (16.6%) patients. The biopsy of five children were positive for bothAGA (IgA and IgG) and tTG (IgA and IgG) revealed that characteristic lesions of celiacdisease. It can be concluded that among the 60 patients that were tested, positive resultsof AGA (IgA and IgG) and tTG (IgA and IgG) represented (13.3%) and (11.7%)respectively and (8.3%) were confirmed by biopsy.