Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology 2003; 36(3):219-221

Celiac.com 03/28/2003 - A study by Antonio Tursi, M.D, et al, was recently conducted to evaluate the correlation between the degree of histologic intestinal damage in celiac patients and their level of positivity (serum value) to anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (anti-tTG). The study looked at 119 adult celiac patients who were diagnosed consecutively (47 men and 72 women; mean age, 28 years; range, 22-51 years), and were stratified for histologic damage according to Marsh classification. The final step was to compare their Marsh histologic intestinal damage classification with their anti-tTG serum values. Here are their results:

Marsh I lesions were present in 13 patients (10.92%), Marsh II in 24 anti-tTG (20.16%), Marsh IIIa in 27 anti-tTG (22.68%), Marsh IIIb in 31 anti-tTG (26.05%) and Marsh IIIc in 24 anti-tTG (20.16%). Anti-tTG positivity was ranging from 1 of 13 anti-tTG (7.69%) in Marsh I lesions to 23 of 24 anti-tTG (95.83%) in Marsh IIIc lesions respectively (P < 0.005), while mean serum value of anti-tTG ranged from 3.61 (range, 0.7-9.2) UA/mL in Marsh I lesions to 7.3 (range, 1-25.1), 18.5 (range, 1.8-56.2), 36 (range, 3.7-83.5) and 74.95 (range, 6.5-257) UA/mL in Marsh II, IIIb and IIIc lesions respectively (P < 0.005).

The researchers conclude that the mean serum value in celiacs with severe enteropathy (Marsh IIIb-c lesions) was higher than in those with only slight enteropathy (Marsh I-IIIa). Further, serologic test results in the absence of histologic evaluation (biopsy) may "underestimate the real prevalence of celiac disease," thus delaying a proper diagnosis and putting patients at risk for a large variety of serious health problems.

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