Beyond Anti-Ttg Antibodies: Diagnostic Value Of Antibodies Against Deamidated Gliadin Peptides In Celiac Disease
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Celiac disease is an autoimmune enteropathy whose diagnosis primarily relies on serological testing, with IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-tTG) antibodies serving as the first-line biomarker. However, their diagnostic performance may be limited in certain situations, particularly in cases of selective IgA deficiency or atypical clinical presentations. Antibodies directed against deamidated gliadin peptides (anti-DGP) represent a promising alternative, but their role in diagnostic strategies remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of anti-tTG and anti-DGP antibodies, used alone or in combination, in Moroccan patients with celiac disease. This retrospective single-center study included 96 serum samples from 49 patients with confirmed celiac disease and 47 healthy controls. IgA and IgG anti-tTG antibodies, as well as IgA and IgG anti-DGP antibodies, were detected using the immunodot technique. Serological profiles were compared between the two groups using Pearson's χ² test. A total of 96 participants were included, comprising 49 patients with confirmed celiac disease and 47 healthy controls. Among the patients, 65% were children and 35% were adults, with a female predominance (63%; sex-ratio = 0.58). In contrast, the control group consisted predominantly of adults (59%) and showed a balanced sex distribution (51% male). All controls were seronegative for the four biomarkers investigated. Among patients, positivity rates were 59.2% for IgA anti-tTG, 46.9% for IgA anti-DGP, 40.8% for IgG anti- tTG, and 49.0% for IgG anti-DGP (p < 0.0001). Combined analysis of serological profiles showed that 87.8% of patients had at least one IgA autoantibody, compared with 61.2% for IgG autoantibodies. Isolated anti-DGP positivity was observed in 28.6% of patients for IgA and 20.4% for IgG, highlighting the complementary value of these biomarkers relative to anti-tTG antibodies and suggesting that a multi-marker serological appr
Source: The Journal of Autoimmunity
Institutions: Université Ibn Zohr, University of Hassan II Casablanca
Language: English
Subfield: Gastroenterology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7224108267