For Care Providers

tTG GLUTEN SENSITIVITY

Anti-Endomysial IgA And Anti-Gliadin IgA And tTG
100% Specific for Celiac Disease
95% Sensitive for Celiac Disease

QuANTA Lite tTG (Tissue Transglutaminase) ELISA
For In Vitro Diagnostic Use

An Enzyme-linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA) for the semi-quantitative detection of IgA antibodies to tissue transglutaminase (endomysium) in human serum. Detection of these antibodies is an aid in diagnosis of certain gluten sensitive enteropathies such as celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis.

Celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis, the two recognized forms of gluten sensitive enteropathy (GSE) are characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa and flattening of the epithelium, or positive "villous atrophy". Intolerance to gluten, the protein of wheat, rye and barley, causes GSE. Patients with celiac disease may suffer from diarrhea, or other problems, anemia, fatigue, psychiatric problems and other diverse side effects or they may be asymptomatic. Dermatitis herpetiformis is a skin disease associated with GSE. All GSE patients have an increased risk of Lymphoma. A gluten-free diet controls GSE and associated risks.

The development of serum tests for three different antibodies of the IgA isotype made it possible to generate more rapid, revised ESPGAN criteria for celiac disease as reported in 1990. These tests include IgA endomysial antibodies (EMA), IgA antigliadin antibodies (AGA) and R1 antireticulin antibodies (ARA). The revised ESPGAN criteria call for: a) a single positive gut biopsy and b) the demonstration of at least two of the three IgA class antibodies mentioned above. Since then, several studies have demonstrated that IgA EMA tests have over 99% specificity for GSE and a greater sensitivity than ARA or AGA tests. Since the IgA EMA disappear when patients with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis adhere to a gluten-free diet, tests for these antibodies also aid in checking on the adherence of patients to their diet.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Food Allergy	Basic Foods - E Panel	Extended Foods - A Panel	Inhalant Panels
tTG Gluten Sensitivity