723 Review of TTG Versus Small Intestinal Biopsy Results; Do We Still Need Duodenal Biopsy to Diagnose Coeliac Disease?

Abstract

Aims To assess compare the results of tissue transglutaminase (tTg) with small intestinal biopsy results in children who had oesphageogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) to assess for coeliac disease (CD) at the National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, between January 2008 and December 2009. Methods We reviewed the patients' records for all OGDs performed to assess for CD during the study period. Small intestinal biopsy results versus the tTg results were recorded. Results 61 patients had an OGD performed during this period for assessment for CD (age 2-15 years). Three were excluded because no tTg was performed or recorded. Of these, 26 patients were males with male to female ratio of 0.8:1. Fifty eight patients were included in the study, 32 had positive intestinal biopsy. Of these 32 patients 29 had positive tTg. This gives a sensitivity of 90%. Thirteen patients had tTg greater than 100, 12 had positive intestinal biopsy; this gives a sensitivity of 92%. Conclusion Although the sensitivity of tTg in our series is 90%, it is reasonable to assess small intestinal biopsy in before subjecting children to lifelong gluten free diet.