Evidence supporting safe diagnosis of coeliac disease in children with antitissue transglutaminase titre ≥5 times upper limit of normal.

OBJECTIVE: European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) guidelines on coeliac disease (CD) recommend that children who have IgA-based antitissue transglutaminase (TGA-IgA) titre ≥10× upper limit of normal (ULN) and positive antiendomysial antibody, can be reliably diagnosed with CD via the no-biopsy pathway. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between TGA-IgA ≥5×ULN and histologically confirmed diagnosis of CD. METHODS: Data including TGA-IgA levels at upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and histological findings from children diagnosed with CD following endoscopy from 2006 to 2021 were analysed. CD was confirmed by Marsh-Oberhuber histological grading 2 to 3 c. Statistical analysis was performed using χ² analysis (p<0.05= significant). RESULTS: 722 of 758 children had histological confirmation of CD. 457 children had TGA-IgA ≥5×ULN and 455 (99.5%) of these had histological confirmation for CD; the two that did not had eventual diagnosis of CD based on clinicopathological features. 114 of 457 had between TGA-IgA ≥5×ULN and <10×ULN, all had confirmed CD. The likelihood of a positive biopsy with TGA-IgA ≥5×ULN (455/457) compared with TGA-IgA <5×ULN (267/301) has strong statistical significance (p<0.00001). The optimal TGA-IgA cut-off from receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was determined to be below 5×ULN for the two assays used. CONCLUSION: 99.5% of children with TGA-IgA ≥5×ULN had histological confirmation of CD, suggesting that CD diagnosis can be made securely in children with TGA-IgA ≥5×ULN. If other studies confirm this finding, there is a case to be made to modify the ESPGHAN guidelines to a lower threshold of TGA-IgA for serological diagnosis of CD.

ESPGHAN 'biopsy-sparing' guidelines for celiac disease in children with low antitransglutaminase during COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: Recent guidelines for celiac disease have allowed a biopsy-free approach in endomysial antibodies (EMAs) positive children with high antitransglutaminase (TGA-IgA) titer [>10 time upper limit of normal (ULN)]. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is still necessary for diagnosis in children with lower title. Because elective pediatric endoscopy has been substantially shouted down during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, many children remained undiagnosed - and therefore untreated - for a long time. We aimed to analyze the feasibility and accuracy of a biopsy-free approach in suspected celiac disease children with TGA-IgA values <10 ULN to facilitate the diagnostic process by avoiding endoscopy. METHODS: In this study cohort, we retrospectively analyzed all biopsy-confirmed diagnosis of celiac disease in our center (between 2014 and 2019). The positive predictive value (PPV) of TGA-IgA titers between 5 and 10 ULN and positive EMA in diagnosing celiac disease were determined. Mucosal atrophy and resolution of symptoms after gluten-free diet (GFD) were considered to confirm initial diagnosis. RESULTS: Of 430 celiac disease patients (F: 274; mean age 7.54 years) diagnosed by endoscopy, 84 (F: 46; mean age 8 years) with TGA-IgA between 5 and 10 ULN and positive EMA were identified. The PPV of TGA-IgA between 5 and 10 ULN and positive EMA was 0.93 (95% confidence interval 0.90-0.96). All these children had a symptom resolution and antibodies normalization after GFD. CONCLUSION: During the COVID-19 outbreak, a temporarily reduction of the TGA-IgA threshold for biopsy-sparing approach seems feasible in EMA positive children with TGA-IgA between 5 and 10 ULN.