Assessment of IgA anti-endomysial antibody levels in children with autism spectrum disorder

Öz

Background and Aims: The relationship between celiac disease and autism spectrum disorder is contradictory. In this study, we aimed to investigate the serum immunoglobulin A anti-endomysial antibody levels of children with autism spectrum disorder in comparison with those of healthy participants. The association between gastrointestinal symptoms and immunoglobulin A anti-endomysial antibody levels was also examined. Materials and Methods: We have included two main groups as study and control groups in the present study. Eighty five children with autism spectrum disorder ranging in age from 2 to 15 years were selected for the study group and 81 healthy children were selected for the control group. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected between 9 am and 10 am. ELISA was used to assay serum immunoglobulin A anti-endomysial antibody levels. Autism behavior checklist was applied to the children in the study group. Results: The mean immunoglobulin A anti-endomysial antibody levels for the study group and the control group were 212.8 ± 110.8 ng/ml and 142.7 ± 98.4 ng/ml, respectively. Immunoglobulin A anti-endomysial antibody levels were significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The frequency of gastrointestinal complaints (e.g. diarrhea or constipation) were significantly higher in the study group (p = 0.01). No statistically significant relationship was found between autism behavior checklist scores, gastrointestinal symptoms and immunoglobulin A anti-endomysial antibody levels (p > 0.05). Age was found to be negatively correlated with immunoglobulin A anti-endomysial antibody levels in the study group. Conclusion: Increased immunoglobulin A anti-endomysial antibody levels and gastrointestinal complaints in children with autism spectrum disorder suggest that it may be appropriate to evaluate autistic individuals with gastrointestinal symptoms related to gluten sensitivity for celiac disease. The exact relationship between celiac disease and autism spectrum disorder needs to be supported by duodenal biopsy.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Autism spectrum disorder
• gastrointestinal symptoms
• celiac disease
• IgA anti-endomysial antibody

Otizm spektrum bozukluğu olan çocuklarda IgA anti-endomisial antikor düzeylerinin değerlendirilmesi

Öz

Giriş ve Amaç: Çölyak hastalığı ile otizm spektrum bozukluğu arasındaki ilişki çelişkilidir. Bu çalışmada, otizm spektrum bozukluğu olan çocukların serum anti-endomisyum immünglobulin A antikor düzeylerini sağlıklı çocuklarla karşılaştırmayı amaçladık. Gastrointestinal şikâyetler ile anti-endomisyum immünglobulin A antikor düzeyleri arasındaki ilişki de incelendi. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışma ve kontrol olarak iki grup mevcut çalışmaya dâhil edildi. 2 ila 15 yaş aralığında otizm spektrum bozukluğu olan 85 çocuk çalışma grubuna ve 81 sağlıklı çocuk kontrol grubuna seçildi. Periferik venöz kan örnekleri sabah 9 ile 10 arasında toplandı. Serum anti-endomisyum immünglobulin A antikor düzeylerini ölçmek için ELISA kullanıldı. Çalışma grubundaki çocuklara otizm davranış kontrol listesi uygulandı. Bulgular: Çalışma grubu ve kontrol grubu için ortalama anti-endomisyum immünglobulin A antikor düzeyleri sırasıyla 212.8 ± 110.8 ng/ml ve 142.7 ± 98.4 ng/ml idi. Anti-endomisyum immünglobulin A antikor düzeyleri çalışma grubunda kontrol grubuna kıyasla anlamlı derecede yüksekti (p < 0.001). Gastrointestinal şikâyetlerin (örneğin ishal veya kabızlık) sıklığı çalışma grubunda anlamlı derecede yüksekti (p = 0.01). Otizm davranış kontrol listesi puanları, gastrointestinal şikâyetler ve anti-endomisyum immünglobulin A antikor düzeyleri arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmadı (p > 0.05). Çalışma grubunda yaş ile anti-endomisyum immünglobulin A antikor düzeyleri arasında negatif korelasyon tespit edildi. Sonuç: Otizm spektrum bozukluğu olan çocuklarda artmış anti-endomisyum immünglobulin A antikor düzeyleri ve gastrointestinal şikâyetler, gluten hassasiyetiyle ilgili gastrointestinal semptomları olan otizmli bireylerin çölyak hastalığı açısından değerlendirilmesinin uygun olabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Çölyak hastalığı ile otizm spektrum bozukluğu arasındaki kesin ilişkinin duodenal biyopsi ile desteklenmesi gerekir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Otizm spektrum bozukluğu
• gastrointestinal şikâyetler
• çölyak hastalığı
• anti-endomisyum IgA antikor

Kaynakça

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