Evaluation of Anti-transglutaminase Antibodies in Iraqi Patients with Celiac Disease

Anti-tissue antibodies have high specificity for celiac disease but measurements are limited, a substrate that is expensive, and of limited availability and ethical acceptance. Tissue transglutaminase has recently been identified as the endomysial autoantigen in celiac disease. To examine the validity of serum tissue transglutaminase antibody levels in patients with celiac disease and to assess their sensitivity and specificity against standard serological tests. Serum IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody titres (measured by ELISA), IgG anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody titres (measured by a commercial ELISAwere determined in 168 untreated patients celiac disease collected from Baghdad Teaching Hospital,Iraq. patients with untreated celiac disease were positive for IgG and IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies. A bout eighty-two per cent of coeliac patients were anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody negative. Twenty eight of 168 patients had high titres of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody (percentage 17.2%). the present results demonstrated the levels of IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies in the diagnosis of celiac disease. The ELISA for IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies is quantitative and easy to perform and is a valid alternative to indirect immunofluorescence for anti-tissue antibodies in screening for suspected celiac disease that’s mean it can be used as diagnostic marker for celiac disease.