The anti-deamidated gliadin peptide antibodies unmask celiac disease in small children with chronic diarrhoea.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the usefulness of a new class of antibodies, the anti-deamidated gliadin peptides, in the diagnostic approach to children less than 2 years with suspected celiac disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated 40 children (median age: 16.8 months; age range: 4-24 months), with symptoms and signs of chronic enteropathy and high serum levels of conventional anti-gliadin antibodies, but normal values of anti-transglutaminase and anti-endomysial antibodies; all underwent measurement of anti-deamidated gliadin peptides serum levels, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsies and HLA typing; 40 subjects served as controls.

RESULTS: In 29 patients (group A) serum levels of anti-deamidated gliadin peptides were normal and duodenal histology showed a spectrum of abnormalities ranging from mucosal inflammatory infiltrates to villous damage (in almost all cases compatible with Marsh 1-to-2 lesions). All improved on a cow's and soy milk free diet containing gluten. In 11 patients (group B) there were high serum levels of anti-deamidated gliadin peptides and histology showed features suggestive of celiac disease (Marsh 2-to-3 lesions) in all; furthermore, human leucocyte antigen typing was consistent with a celiac disease genetic pattern in all. Group B patients significantly improved on a gluten free diet containing cow's and soy milk proteins. None of the control group was anti-deamidated gliadin peptides positive.

CONCLUSIONS: In children younger than 2 years with signs of chronic enteropathy and normal values of classical serum markers of celiac disease, the latter can be predicted by high serum levels of anti-deamidated gliadin peptides.