What are transglutaminase antibodies of IgA?
Transglutaminase antibodies, IgA is a type of antibody that can be measured in the blood to diagnose celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that causes damage to the intestine when gluten is consumed. Transglutaminase is an enzyme found in the intestine that can cause damage to the intestinal tissue in celiac disease.
When gluten is eaten by a person with celiac disease, it triggers an immune reaction that leads to the production of IgA-type transglutaminase antibodies. These antibodies can be detected in the blood through a blood test and are used as a marker to detect celiac disease.
What does a high value of IgA transglutaminase antibodies mean?
A high value of transglutaminase antibodies of the IgA type indicates a high probability of celiac disease. However, since there are other factors that can affect the test result, it is important to interpret the test result together with other clinical findings, and possibly perform a biopsy of the intestine to confirm the diagnosis of celiac disease.