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Deane KD, Van Hoovels L, Joy VE, Olschowka N, Bossuyt X. From autoantibody test results to decision making: Incorporating likelihood ratios within medical practice. Autoimmun Rev 2024; 23:103537. [PMID: 38565401 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2024.103537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Autoantibodies are important laboratory markers to support diagnosis of autoimmune diseases. Interpretation of autoantibodies is classically done in a dichotomous way (positive versus negative). Yet, interpretation of autoantibody test results can be improved by reporting likelihood ratios. Likelihood ratios convey information on how much more/less likely a test result is in individuals with the disease compared to individuals without the disease. It incorporates information on the antibody level (the higher the antibody level, the higher the association with the disease), which is helpful for (differential) diagnosis. Likelihood ratios are unit-independent and allow users to harmonize test result interpretation. When the likelihood ratio is combined with information on the pre-test probability, post-test probability can be appraised. In this review, the applicability of likelihood ratio in autoimmune diagnostics will be reviewed from the perspective of the clinician, the laboratory professional and the in vitro diagnostic industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D Deane
- University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Lieve Van Hoovels
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, OLV Hospital, Aalst, Belgium; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | | | | | - Xavier Bossuyt
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Laboratory Medicine, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Bossuyt X, Van Hoovels L. Reporting Likelihood Ratio in Autoimmune Serology: Just a Theory or Feasible in Practice? Clin Chem 2024; 70:482-485. [PMID: 38300842 DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/hvad222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Bossuyt
- Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Clinical and Diagnostic Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Van Hoovels
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Clinical and Diagnostic Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory Medicine, OLV Hospital, Aalst, Belgium
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Mendia I, Segura V, Ruiz-Carnicer Á, Coto L, Negrete M, Long JCD, Reyes J, Amil B, Salamanca I, Comino I, Cebolla Á, Sousa C. Rapid Anti-tTG-IgA Screening Test for Early Diagnosis of Celiac Disease in Pediatric Populations. Nutrients 2023; 15:4926. [PMID: 38068784 PMCID: PMC10708117 DOI: 10.3390/nu15234926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
A large number of patients with celiac disease (CD) remain undiagnosed because they do not fulfill the criteria for entry into the conventional diagnostic workflow. This study evaluated the clinical utility of anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA antibody lateral flow immunoassays (anti-tTG-IgA LFIA) in the undiagnosed-CD-based pediatric population and the impact of a gluten-free diet (GFD) on screening-detected CD. A total of 576 volunteers were tested for anti-tTG-IgA. Gluten consumption habits, CD related symptoms, and risk factors for CD development were evaluated. Volunteers testing positive for anti-tTG-IgA were referred to the conventional CD diagnostic workflow, and the impact of the GFD on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) was measured. Among them, 13 had a positive anti-tTG-IgA LFIA test result: 11 had confirmed CD (1.91%), one refused confirmatory tests, and another is undergoing diagnosis. Regarding the CD prevalence, no significant differences were observed among risk (1.89%) and symptomatic (2.65%) groups and the entire tested population (1.55%). Rapid anti-tTG-IgA LFIAs could be of clinical utility in primary care for the early identification of children with CD unidentified by the conventional diagnostic workflow. It could potentially reduce the costs of undiagnosed CD, avoiding unnecessary referrals to gastroenterologists, reducing diagnosis delays and long-term problems, and improving patients' HR-QoL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irati Mendia
- Biomedal S.L., 41900 Seville, Spain; (I.M.)
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Verónica Segura
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Ángela Ruiz-Carnicer
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Laura Coto
- Biomedal S.L., 41900 Seville, Spain; (I.M.)
| | | | | | - Joaquin Reyes
- Instituto Hispalense de Pediatría, 41014 Seville, Spain (I.S.)
| | - Benito Amil
- Instituto Hispalense de Pediatría, 41014 Seville, Spain (I.S.)
| | | | - Isabel Comino
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | | | - Carolina Sousa
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, 41012 Seville, Spain
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Ventura I, Rodriguez B, Suescum S, Revert F, Revert-Ros F, Moreno MA, Prieto-Ruiz JA, Pérez-Bermejo M. More Than Three Years for Normalisation of Routine Laboratory Values after Gluten Withdrawal in Paediatric Coeliac Patients. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1580. [PMID: 37761542 PMCID: PMC10529408 DOI: 10.3390/children10091580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of the nutritional and inflammatory status of paediatric patients with coeliac disease is an interesting approach to early diagnosis and functional follow-up. Most authors agree that the normalisation of symptoms takes about one year. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical manifestation and normalisation of routine analytics in Spanish children diagnosed with celiac disease. METHODS We performed a retrospective case-control study in Spanish paediatric patients, including 21 celiac patients and 20 healthy controls. The 21 patients selected in the case-control study were followed for 5 years after starting a gluten-free diet (GFD). All patients had type 3 villous atrophy according to the Marsh-Oberhuber classification. A total of 39 blood samples were taken before the start of the GFD, and 109 were taken after. Twenty control sera from healthy donors were used for comparison. RESULTS We found that patients had a subclinical but statistically significant increase in blood calcium, transaminases, and white blood cells, and a decrease in serum iron, at the time of diagnosis. Our study also shows that analytical values normalise within five years on a gluten-free diet. CONCLUSIONS The use of a combination of subclinical changes, including low iron, high calcium, elevated leukocytes, lymphocytes, and ALT levels in blood samples, together with a low growth percentile, is pertinent in detecting coeliac disease. This set of parameters could help in the diagnosis of patients without clinical symptoms. We can also show that the levels of Fe, Ca, transaminases, and leucocytes remain subclinically altered after 3 years, despite the gluten-free diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Ventura
- Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad Católica de Valencia ‘San Vicent Mártir’, 46001 Valencia, Spain; (I.V.); (B.R.); (S.S.); (F.R.); (F.R.-R.); (M.A.M.); (J.A.P.-R.)
- Translational Research Center “San Alberto Magno” CITSAM, Universidad Católica de Valencia ‘San Vicente Mártir’, 46001 Valencia, Spain
| | - Belén Rodriguez
- Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad Católica de Valencia ‘San Vicent Mártir’, 46001 Valencia, Spain; (I.V.); (B.R.); (S.S.); (F.R.); (F.R.-R.); (M.A.M.); (J.A.P.-R.)
| | - Sandra Suescum
- Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad Católica de Valencia ‘San Vicent Mártir’, 46001 Valencia, Spain; (I.V.); (B.R.); (S.S.); (F.R.); (F.R.-R.); (M.A.M.); (J.A.P.-R.)
| | - Fernando Revert
- Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad Católica de Valencia ‘San Vicent Mártir’, 46001 Valencia, Spain; (I.V.); (B.R.); (S.S.); (F.R.); (F.R.-R.); (M.A.M.); (J.A.P.-R.)
- Translational Research Center “San Alberto Magno” CITSAM, Universidad Católica de Valencia ‘San Vicente Mártir’, 46001 Valencia, Spain
| | - Francisco Revert-Ros
- Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad Católica de Valencia ‘San Vicent Mártir’, 46001 Valencia, Spain; (I.V.); (B.R.); (S.S.); (F.R.); (F.R.-R.); (M.A.M.); (J.A.P.-R.)
- Translational Research Center “San Alberto Magno” CITSAM, Universidad Católica de Valencia ‘San Vicente Mártir’, 46001 Valencia, Spain
| | - María Antonia Moreno
- Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad Católica de Valencia ‘San Vicent Mártir’, 46001 Valencia, Spain; (I.V.); (B.R.); (S.S.); (F.R.); (F.R.-R.); (M.A.M.); (J.A.P.-R.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Manises Hospital, 46940 Manises, Spain
| | - Jesús A. Prieto-Ruiz
- Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad Católica de Valencia ‘San Vicent Mártir’, 46001 Valencia, Spain; (I.V.); (B.R.); (S.S.); (F.R.); (F.R.-R.); (M.A.M.); (J.A.P.-R.)
- Translational Research Center “San Alberto Magno” CITSAM, Universidad Católica de Valencia ‘San Vicente Mártir’, 46001 Valencia, Spain
| | - Marcelino Pérez-Bermejo
- SONEV Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, 46001 Valencia, Spain
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Castelijn DAR, Mulder AHL, van der Pol P, Hollander JC, Kuiper T, Bijnens C, Damoiseaux J, Bontkes HJ. Multicenter study to compare the diagnostic performance of CLIA vs. FEIA transglutaminase IgA assays for the diagnosis of celiac disease. Clin Chem Lab Med 2023; 61:1446-1454. [PMID: 36857146 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2022-1045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated enteropathy driven by gluten intake. Presence of tTG-IgA antibodies is important for the diagnosis. However, different tTG-IgA assays are used and test performance may vary. Therefore, a retrospective multicenter study was performed to compare the diagnostic performance of three assays. METHODS The fluorescence enzyme-linked immunoassay (FEIA) EliA Celikey IgA (Phadia), the chemiluminescence immunoassays (CLIA) h-tTG IgA QUANTA Flash® (Inova Diagnostics) and the anti-tTG ChLIA IgA (Euroimmun) were compared. Diagnostic samples from CD cases (95 adults; 65 children) and controls (479 adults; 253 children) were included. Samples were blinded and reanalyzed on all platforms. RESULTS A high quantitative correlation between platforms was found (p<0.0001). Both CLIA were more sensitive (adults 100%; children 100%) compared to the FEIA (adults 88.4%; children 96.6%). Specificity of all assays was high (≥97.6%) with the FEIA having the highest specificity. A cut-off based on receiver operator characteristic analysis (6.5 U/mL) improved the sensitivity of the FEIA (adults 95.8%; children 100%) without affecting specificity. Cut-off values for the CLIA assays did not need further optimization. With the FEIA, 71% of pediatric cases had a tTG-IgA level ≥10× upper limit of normal compared to 91 and 92% with QUANTA Flash and ChLIA, respectively. CONCLUSIONS All platforms have high diagnostic accuracy. The CLIA assays are more sensitive compared to the FEIA assay. A lower cut-off for the FEIA improves diagnostic performance, particularly in adult cases that, as demonstrated in this study, present with lower tTG-IgA levels compared to pediatric cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daan A R Castelijn
- Laboratory Medical Immunology , Department of Clinical Chemistry , Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, The Netherlands; and Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A H Leontine Mulder
- Clinical Laboratory, Medlon B.V., Enschede, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Ziekenhuis Groep Twente, Almelo, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter van der Pol
- Medical Laboratories , Department of Immunology, Reinier Haga MDC, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Jolien C Hollander
- Laboratory Medical Immunology , Department of Clinical Chemistry , Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, The Netherlands; and Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tietie Kuiper
- Clinical Laboratory, Medlon B.V., Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Caroline Bijnens
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Damoiseaux
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Hetty J Bontkes
- Laboratory Medical Immunology , Department of Clinical Chemistry , Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, The Netherlands; and Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Cockx M, Van Hoovels L, De Langhe E, Lenaerts J, Thevissen K, Persy B, Bonroy C, Vercammen M, Bossuyt X. Laboratory evaluation of anti-dsDNA antibodies. Clin Chim Acta 2022; 528:34-43. [PMID: 35016875 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2021.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies to dsDNA are an important laboratory parameter for diagnosis, monitoring and classification of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In clinical laboratories, several techniques are used to detect and quantify anti-dsDNA antibodies. Each technique has its advantages and disadvantages regarding sensitivity, specificity, avidity and assay procedure. Assays differ with respect to the antigen source (native versus synthetic versus molecular biological) used and the way the antigen is presented (e.g. in solution, covalently linked to a solid phase,…). Consequently, correlation between assays can be poor and standardization of anti-dsDNA antibody tests is challenging. We here provide an overview of the currently available anti-dsDNA tests frequently used in clinical laboratories [Crithidiae luciliae immunofluorescence test (CLIFT), Enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA), fluoroenzyme immunoassay (FEIA), chemiluminescence (CIA), multiplexed bead-based assays and Farr-RIA] and their performance characteristics. From this literature study, we concluded that performance characteristics differ between assays. Often, a combination of techniques is necessary for the best result interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike Cockx
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Van Hoovels
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Laboratory Medicine, OLV Hospital, Aalst, Belgium
| | - Ellen De Langhe
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Development and Regeneration, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Lenaerts
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Reumainstituut and Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium
| | | | - Ben Persy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium
| | - Carolien Bonroy
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University Hospitals, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospitals, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Xavier Bossuyt
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Nevejan L, Dobbels P, Norman GL, Voreck A, Bossuyt X, Van Hoovels L. Necessity of harmonization of tissue transglutaminase IgA assays to align clinical decision making in coeliac disease. Clin Chem Lab Med 2021; 60:81-84. [PMID: 34890173 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2021-1207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Louis Nevejan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, OLV Hospital, Aalst, Belgium.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pieter Dobbels
- Department of Gastroenterology, OLV Hospital, Aalst, Belgium
| | - Gary L Norman
- Headquarters & Technology Center Autoimmunity, Werfen, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Xavier Bossuyt
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Van Hoovels
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, OLV Hospital, Aalst, Belgium.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Fierz W, Bossuyt X. Likelihood Ratio Approach and Clinical Interpretation of Laboratory Tests. Front Immunol 2021; 12:655262. [PMID: 33936083 PMCID: PMC8086426 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.655262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Walter Fierz
- Schweizerischer Verband der Diagnostikindustrie (SVDI), Bern, Switzerland
| | - Xavier Bossuyt
- Clinical and Diagnostic Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU, Leuven, Belgium.,Immunology Service, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals, Leuven, Belgium
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Badizadegan K, Vanlandingham DM, Hampton W, Thompson KM. Value of biopsy in a cohort of children with high-titer celiac serologies: observation of dynamic policy differences between Europe and North America. BMC Health Serv Res 2020; 20:962. [PMID: 33081760 PMCID: PMC7576777 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-020-05815-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Healthcare systems implement change at different rates because of differences in incentives, organizational processes, key influencers, and management styles. A comparable set of forces may play out at the national and international levels as demonstrated in significant differences in the diagnostic management of pediatric Celiac Disease (CD) between European and North American practitioners. Methods We use retrospective clinical cohorts of 27,868 serum tissue transglutaminase (tTG) immunoglobulin A levels and 7907 upper gastrointestinal endoscopy pathology reports to create a dataset of 793 pathology reports with matching tTG results between July 1 of 2014 and July 1 of 2018. We use this dataset to characterize histopathological findings in the duodenum, stomach and esophagus of patients as a function of serum tTG levels. In addition, we use the dataset to estimate the local and national cost of endoscopies performed in patients with serum tTG levels greater than 10 times the upper limit of normal. Results Using evidence from a US tertiary care center, we show that in the cohort of pediatric patients with high pre-test probability of CD as determined by serum tTG levels, biopsy provides no additional diagnostic value for CD, and that it counter-intuitively introduces diagnostic uncertainty in a number of patients. We estimate that using the European diagnostic algorithms could avoid between 4891 and 7738 pediatric endoscopies per year in the US for evaluation of CD. Conclusions This study considers the North American and European management guidelines for the diagnosis of pediatric CD and highlights the slow adoption in North America of evidence-based algorithms developed and applied in Europe for triage of endoscopy and biopsy. We suggest that system dynamics influences that help maintain the status quo in North America include a variety of social and economic factors in addition to medical evidence. This work contributes to the growing body of evidence that the dynamics that largely favor maintaining status quo management policies in a variety of systems extend to clinical medicine and potentially influence clinical decisions at the level of individual patients and the population. Supplementary information Supplementary information accompanies this paper at 10.1186/s12913-020-05815-0.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David M Vanlandingham
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Wesley Hampton
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
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Thompson G, Grover Z, Loh R, Mews C, Ravikumara M, Jevon G, D'Orsogna L, McLean-Tooke A. Assessment of European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) guidelines in an Australian paediatric population. Pathology 2020; 52:568-575. [PMID: 32586687 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2020.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Coeliac disease (CD) diagnosis is based on clinical assessment, detection of specific autoantibodies and histological examination of small intestinal biopsies. The European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) guidelines have recently been updated and recommend CD may be diagnosed without a biopsy or HLA typing in symptomatic patients with high titre IgA tissue transglutaminase antibodies (aTTG) and positive endomysial antibodies (EMA). However, the need for EMA in patients with high level aTTG has been questioned. We aimed to determine the diagnostic benefit of HLA typing, EMA and IgG antibodies to deamidated gliadin (DGP) in children with high level aTTG. We prospectively evaluated children presenting for assessment of possible CD. All patients underwent small bowel biopsy, serological testing and HLA typing. Results were analysed and correlated with histopathological diagnosis. A total of 209 children were assessed; 61.5% were found to have CD and 29% could have avoided biopsy as per 2020 ESPGHAN guidelines. Titres of aTTG ≥60 U/mL or DGP ≥28 U/mL gave 100% specificity and 100% positive predictive value (PPV) for CD. HLA typing and EMA did not improve the PPV of patients with aTTG ≥60 U/mL, but addition of DGP ≥28 U/mL improved diagnostic sensitivity whilst retaining 100% specificity. Addition of HLA and EMA testing in patients with high titre aTTG antibodies does not improve diagnostic performance and may possibly be omitted from the serological workup in these patients. Our data support combining aTTG and DGP testing and optimising cut-offs to maximise specificity as an alternative biopsy-free diagnostic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Thompson
- Department of Clinical Immunology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia.
| | - Zubin Grover
- Department of Gastroenterology, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Richard Loh
- Department of Clinical Immunology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Catherine Mews
- Department of Gastroenterology, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Madhur Ravikumara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Gareth Jevon
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Lloyd D'Orsogna
- Department of Clinical Immunology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Andrew McLean-Tooke
- Department of Clinical Immunology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia; Department of Immunology, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
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