Specimen Information

Type

Gold, SST

Volume

1.0 ml

Transport Info

Centrifuge and immediately transfer serum to separate plastic tube
Refrigerated

Fasting Required?

False

Clinical Significance

IgA class reticulin antibodies react with connective tissue fibers and are most easily demonstrated on rat or mouse kidney substrates and also rat or mouse stomach. Celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis are related disorders categorized as the "gluten-sensitive enteropathies." Gluten-sensitive enteropathy is characterized as a non-allergic hypersensitivity to gluten or storage proteins found in wheat and other cereals. This hypersensitivity causes intestinal villous atrophy (flattening) and its physiologic consequence, malabsorption. With celiac disease, the pathology is primarily confined to the digestive tract while patients with dermatitis herpetiformis also suffer from a chronic blistering skin disease. Both conditions are difficult to diagnose, especially in the case of celiac disease. Final diagnosis of both conditions frequently necessitates jejunal biopsies. However, the newer serologic tests for antibodies to smooth muscle endomysium, reticulin, and, sometimes, gliadin may be useful in diagnosing these conditions. IgA class reticulin antibodies are found only in celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis. They are found in 25% of patients with dermatitis herpetiformis and 60% of celiac disease patients. IgG class reticulin antibodies are occasionally found in other disease states, especially bullous dermatoses and in some normal subjects.