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. 1998 Feb;101(2):272-5.
doi: 10.1542/peds.101.2.272.

Prevalence of IgA-antigliadin antibodies and IgA-antiendomysium antibodies related to celiac disease in children with Down syndrome

A Carlsson  1 , I Axelsson, S Borulf, A Bredberg, M Forslund, B Lindberg, K Sjöberg, S A Ivarsson
Affiliations

Prevalence of IgA-antigliadin antibodies and IgA-antiendomysium antibodies related to celiac disease in children with Down syndrome

A Carlsson et al. Pediatrics. 1998 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of celiac disease in children and adolescents with Down syndrome.

Material and methods: Forty-three children and adolescents with Down syndrome were screened for IgA-antigliadin antibodies (AGA) and IgA-antiendomysium antibodies (EMA). Patients found to be either AGA- or EMA-positive were investigated further with intestinal biopsy.

Results: None of the 43 patients had known celiac disease at entry into the study; 37% (16/43) were found to have AGA levels above normal, and 16% (7/43) to be EMA-positive. Of the 15 patients who underwent biopsy, 8 manifested villous atrophy. Villous atrophy was present in all 7 of the EMA-positive patients, whereas the villi were normal in 7 of the 13 AGA-positive patients who underwent biopsy.

Conclusions: EMA is a good immunologic marker for use in screening for celiac disease, and screening is justified in patients with Down syndrome.

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