Celiac Profile - Serum

Overview

Clinician Info

CPT Codes

Kit Instructions

Sample Reports

Interpretive Guide

References

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an immune mediated response to gluten that affects the gastrointestinal tract.1,2 Inherited factors make some individuals sensitive to a protein called gliadin, which is a part of the total protein or gluten found in grains. When undigested gluten reaches the small intestine, gliadin peptides activate auto-immune reactions in susceptible individuals.

Identifying Celiac Disease

It is estimated that more than 2 million people in the United States alone have celiac disease.4 The purpose of Metametrix new Celiac Profile is to accurately define those who are likely to have celiac disease. When IgA-tTG and IgA-AGA are positive, there is a high degree of certainty the patient has celiac disease. When IgA-tTG is positive with normal IgA-AGA, the patient may have celiac disease, but has followed a gluten-free diet, therefore reducing their IgA-AGA. Those individuals with moderate to strong positives may follow up with a biopsy.

1. NIH, N.I.o.H., NIH Consensus Development Conference on Celiac Disease. 2004 (June 28-30, 2004).
2. Thompson, T., Wheat starch, gliadin, and the gluten-free diet. J Am Diet Assoc, 2001. 101(12):p.1456-9.
3. Anderson, R., Coeliac Disease. Australian Family Physician, 2005. 34(4):p.239-242.
4. Westberg, D.P., et al., New Strategies for diagnosis and management of celiac disease. J Am Osteopath Assoc, 2006. 18(1):p.145-51.

Metametrix Celiac Profile

The celiac profile is composed of three tests:

IgA human tissue transglutaminase (IgA-tTG): Occurs as an immune response to tissue transglutaminase and is rarely found in individuals without celiac disease.
Serum IgA: Identifying serum IgA deficiencies are important for two reasons. First, IgA deficiencies can lead to false negatives for IgA-tTG. Second, individuals with an IgA deficiency have a 10 - 21 times greater risk of developing celiac disease.3
IgA antigliadin antibody (IgA-AGA): This antibody develops against gliadin showing consumption of gluten-containing foods that can propagate the enteropathy of celiac disease.