[Serum antigliadin antibodies in the diagnosis and follow-up of celiac disease].

Between July 1985 and June 1990, we prospectively investigated 236 children suspected of having malabsorption syndrome. Each patient had a xylose absorption test and small intestinal biopsy. Blood samples were collected to AGA assay. The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of antigliadin antibodies test, IgG and IgA, in screening celiac disease for intestinal biopsy and in the monitoring of gluten-free diet and challenge in celiac patients. Twenty patients were diagnosed with celiac disease confirmed by three small intestinal biopsies; 12 patients were suspected of having celiac disease, with two biopsies, before and one year after a gluten-free diet; 106 patients had environmental enteropathy; 45 patients had protracted diarrhea and 56 children had failure to thrive with no gastrointestinal symptoms. The AGA test was considered a reliable test in screening for biopsy and in the differential diagnosis between celiac disease and other causes of malabsorption syndrome. The IgG AGA test had high sensitivity (90.4%) and the IgA AGA test had high specificity (92.1%) in screening for celiac disease. In the follow-up of the celiac patients the antibody levels were significantly higher during gluten containing diet than after gluten avoidance being thus a reliable test to evaluate dietary compliance.