Serologic testing for celiac disease in young people with elevated transaminases

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM: A cryptogenic elevation of transaminases is the most common hepatic manifestation in celiac disease (CD). In adult patients and pediatric patients with cryptogenic hypertransaminasemia, the prevalence of CD was 4% and 12%, respectively. However, there are no related data from China in this regard. We aimed to investigate the status of CD in young Chinese patients with elevated transaminases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 125 patients with elevated transaminases and 125 healthy individuals as controls with matched age and sex were involved in the study. Serum markers of hepatitis B were determined in patients with elevated transaminases. All subjects were screened for CD by testing serum IgA antitissue transglutaminase antibodies (anti-tTG IgA), and total serum IgA was determined in order to rule out IgA deficiency. RESULTS: None of the subjects were seropositive to IgA anti-tTG antibodies. No association between CD and elevated transaminases was found. Hepatitis B viral infections were one of the main causes of raised transaminases. CONCLUSION: Before the exclusion of every known cause of raised transaminase levels, routine serological screening for CD should not be recommended for patients who only present elevated transaminases.