ANTIGLIADIN ANTIBODIES IN BLOOD-DONORS IN NORTHERN-IRELAND

Objective: Use of a sensitive and specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin (Ig)A antigliadin antibody to estimate the prevalence of coeliac disease in a blood donor population. Design: Prospective study of sera obtained from blood donors attending blood donation sessions in Northern Ireland. Setting: The Northern Ireland Regional Immunology Laboratory and centres of the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service. Participants: A total of 443 donors attending 11 centres. Main outcome measure: A positive antigliadin antibody level, defined as greater than 100 ELISA units (EU). Results: Five sera (1%) were positive, ranging from 132 to 300 EU. Positive values were clustered in the north-west, with 2% (four out of 191) of sera over 100 EU compared with 0.4% (one out of 252) elsewhere. Conclusions: Even among a blood donor population, with normal haemoglobin concentrations, the estimated prevalence of coeliac disease is 1 : 100 and may be higher in some areas. The true prevalence in the general population is probably higher, although the benefit of screening asymptomatic patients for coeliac disease remains to be established. A prospective study of a sample of the general population with histological confirmation of the diagnosis in subjects with raised levels of antigliadin antibody is now required.