Relationships between Clinical Presentation, Serology, Histology, and Duodenal Deposits of Tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies in Pediatric Celiac Disease.

BACKGROUND: The clinical, histological, and serological spectrum of celiac disease (CD) vary widely. We aimed to examine relationships between symptoms, serum anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTG) levels, mucosal damage, and mucosal anti-tTG deposits in pediatric CD.

METHODS: A retrospective single-center, cohort study of children referred for endoscopy with suspected CD during 2011-2014. We retrieved the clinical data, blindly reviewed duodenal biopsies, and performed immunohistochemical staining for anti-tTG deposits. Patients were classified as monosymptomatic or polysymptomatic. Mucosal anti-tTG deposits were classified according to the location of deposits, dominant intensity, maximal intensity, and percentage of stained area.

RESULTS: Of 252 patients with confirmed CD, complete data were available for 100: 37 males in the age range 1.3-16.7 with median 4.0 years. Monosymptomatic patients (n = 54) presented at an older age than polysymptomatic patients (1.3-15.5, median 8.1 vs. 1.3-16.7, median 6.3 years, p = 0.026). Marsh 2-3c was more prevalent in polysymptomatic patients (93 vs. 78%, p = 0.028). The intensity of mucosal anti-tTG deposits correlated with serum anti-tTG levels but not with the clinical presentation.

CONCLUSIONS: Multiple symptoms and high serum anti-tTG antibody levels correlated with mucosal damage in children with CD. The role of immunohistochemical staining for intestinal anti-tTG mucosal deposits in the diagnosis of borderline CD is not yet established.