SPECIFICITY OF LEUKOCYTE MIGRATION-INHIBITION TEST IN CELIAC-DISEASE - A REASSESSMENT USING DIFFERENT GLUTEN SUBFRACTIONS

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 60  (1) , 117-122
Abstract
Production of leukocyte migration inhibition factor by peripheral blood leukocytes in response to challenge with gluten fractions has been proposed as a reliable in vitro test for the diagnosis of celiac disease. The leukocyte migration inhibition test was performed with 2 different gluten fractions, GFIII and B2, in untreated and treated celiac patients, patients with other intestinal diseases (abnormal controls) and healthy controls, and evaluated the sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predicatability of the test for the diagnosis of celiac disease. Using GFIII as antigen leukocyte migration was significantly inhibited, compared to healthy controls, not only in treated and untreated celiacs, but also in abnormal controls. Using B2 gluten subfraction as antigen only treated celiacs and abnormal controls differed significantly from healthy controls. The elevated number of abnormal controls showing migration inhibition consistently affected the diagnostic value of the test, which did not vary using B2 subfraction instead of GFIII as antigen. This study confirms previous observations of gluten sensitization, as detected by leukocyte migration inhibition, in celiac patients but strongly questions the claim that celiac disease can be diagnosed on the basis of a positive leukocyte migration inhibition test without the need for intestinal biopsy.