Gluten Enteropathy in Adult Iraqi Patients: Immunological and Histopathological Assessment (A Cross-Sectional Study)

Background: Gluten-enteropathy or Celiac disease (CD) is a well-known autoimmune gastroenteropathy. The disease incidence is globally like an iceberg with many cases are believed to be undiscovered in the community. Many researches are continuously done to detect the pathogenesis of the disease. Soluble Interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) is well a mediator involved in the inflammatory process including celiac disease. ELISA technique was used to evaluate the serum level of sIL-2R, anti- tissue tTG IgA and anti-deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP) IgG. The duodenal histological changes were evaluated dependent on the MARSH grading system. Forty five patients were included in this cross-sectional study with other 45 healthy persons as control group. Statistical analysis using the SPSS system revealed the followings facts. Aim: This study aimed to assess the level of sIL-2R in association with duodenal histopathological changes in CD together with other serological and clinical parameters in comparison with healthy individuals (control group). Materials and Methods: A forty five patients were included in this cross-sectional study with other forty five healthy persons as control group. Statistical analysis using the SPSS system to reveal the followings facts. Results: Anemia was present in most of patients. The patients with celiac disease had high levels of serum anti-tTG, DGP & s.IL-2 receptors with significant difference in comparison with the control group (P< 0.05). MARSH grades were highly significant with the immunological markers. Conclusion: CD can be a hidden disease with variable severity modes that can be monitored by immunological and pathological methods. Soluble IL-2R antibody is a good tool to assess CD activity and patient compliance.