Transglutaminase Antibody

Transglutaminase antibodies (synonyms: transglutaminase-Ak, tTG antibodies; tissue transglutaminase antibodies) are used in the diagnosis of celiac disease (gluten-induced enteropathy; chronic disease of the mucosa of the small intestine (small bowel mucosa) caused by hypersensitivity to the cereal protein gluten). Tissue transglutaminase is the relevant antigen of endomysium.

The procedure

Material needed

  • Blood serum

Preparation of the patient

  • Not necessary

Standard value

Transglutaminase IgA antibody <20 U/ml

Indications

Interpretation

Interpretation of increased values

Other notes

  • Serological diagnostics must always be performed with adequate gluten intake.
  • A selective IgA deficiency (determination of total IgA) must be excluded beforehand (prevalence (disease frequency) 2%); because in the presence of IgA deficiency endomysium and transglutaminase IgA antibodies may not be detectable.
  • Together with the determination of auto-Ak (IgA) against transglutaminase antibodies (tTG) or endomysium antibodies (EMA), auto-Ak (IgA) against gliadin have the highest diagnostic significance in celiac disease.
  • Transglutaminase IgA antibodies, even in isolation, have a high sensitivity (percentage of diseased patients in whom the disease is detected by the use of the test, i.e., a positive test result occurs) 74-100% and specificity (probability that actually healthy people who do not have the disease in question are also detected as healthy in the test) 78-100% for the diagnosis of celiac disease.