A celiac disease marker: Serum immunoglobulin a anti-tissue transglutaminase in vitiligo cases and controls in a hospital in South-West Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder resulting from the destruction of melanocytes of affected patients. Celiac disease (CD) is characterised by autoimmune inflammation of small intestinal mucosa specifically triggered by the gluten consumption in susceptible individuals. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-tTG) serology is recommended as an initial test for the diagnosis of CD prior to confirmation with intestinal biopsy. Aim: We aimed to compare the serum IgA anti-tTG levels in vitiligo patients and controls without vitiligo in a hospital in South-West Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was a case–control study of 33 vitiligo cases and 33 controls. IgA anti-tTG was assayed in participants' sera using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay protocol employing recombinant human tTG. Results: A total of 66 participants were recruited into the study; 33 cases with vitiligo and 33 controls. The median age for cases was 50 years (range: 4–82). The median age for the controls was 55 years (range: 23–76). Generalised vitiligo accounted for 13 (40%) of vitiligo cases with the others consisting of various forms of segmental vitiligo. Anti-tTG levels were higher in cases at 6.1U/ml (8.8, 0.6–20.0) (med [interquartile range (IQR), min-max]), compared to controls 5.2 U/ml (3.7, 0.7–22.4). Difference between groups estimated using the Mann-Whitney U-test was not significant, u = 408.0, P = 0.08 (α = 0.05). Conclusion: There was no significant difference in serum IgA anti-tTG in vitiligo cases and controls in this study. Further studies are required to clarify the nature of the association between vitiligo and CD.