RE: Candida Immune Assay
Posted by: Ron Kennedy, M.D.
Date: December 15, 2001 3:34 PM
This is one of the antibodies which is found in Celiac disease. There are two types of IgA: the IgA endomysial antibodies and IgA antigliadin antibodies. There are also two other IgA antibodies: an "AGA" and "ARA." The criteria for diagnosing celiac disease calls for:
a) a single positive gut biopsy and
b) the demonstration of at least two of the three IgA class antibodies mentioned above.
However, for practical purposes several studies have demonstrated that the IgA endomysial antibodies (IgA EMA) test has over 99% specificity for Celiac (also called GSE or Gluten Sensitive Enteropathy) and a greater sensitivity than ARA or AGA tests. Since the IgA EMA disappear when patients with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis adhere to a gluten-free diet, tests for these antibodies also aid in checking on the adherence of patients to their diets. Recently, the endomysial antigen has been identified as the protein cross-linking enzyme known as tissue
transglutaminase (tTG). You should have your doctor tell you what this all means in your case.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at August 8, 2007 10:14 AM by Dr. Kennedy.
