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Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 7, 2006; 12(17): 2779-2780
Published online May 7, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i17.2779
Determination of anti-endomysium IgA antibodies in the diagnosis of celiac disease: Comparison of a novel ELISA-based assay with conventional immunofluorescence
Dennis CW Poland, Huib Ceelie, Rob B Dinkelaar, Cornelis Beijer
Dennis CW Poland, Cornelis Beijer, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Diaconessenhuis, Leiden, Netherlands
Huib Ceelie, Rob B Dinkelaar, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis, Dordrecht, Netherlands
Correspondence to: Dr. DCW Poland, Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Albinusdreef 2, L2-56, 2300RC Leiden, Netherlands. d.c.w.poland@lumc.nl
Telephone: +31-71-5264870 Fax: +31-71-5266753
Received: November 24, 2005
Revised: December 12, 2005
Accepted: January 14, 2006
Published online: May 7, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the novel anti-endomysium (anti-EMA) detection based on ELISA.

METHODS: Anti-EMA IgA was measured by a novel ELISA in 196 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and suspected mal-absorption. Data were compared with those obtained by the conventional IF test.

RESULTS: A good concordance of 98% was found between these two assays. In sera of 161 patients (82%) both assays tested negative whereas in sera of 31 patients (16%) both assays tested positive for the presence of anti-EMA antibodies. Discrepancies between EMA-ELISA and EMA-immunofluorescence (IF) were found in only 4 patients (2%).

CONCLUSION: This ELISA can replace IF for the detection of anti-EMA antibodies and provide clinicians with an excellent tool to screen for celiac disease in patients with gastrointestinal complaints.

Keywords: Celiac disease; Endomysium; ELISA; Immunofluorescence; Histology