Special Precautions/Comments:

Interferences: None known

Interpretation: Results are reported as either: POSITIVE or NEGATIVE. A test result should not be considered of diagnostic value in itself, but used in conjunction with details of the patient’s clinical symptoms, clinical history and any other available data to produce clinical diagnosis

 

Additional Information:

Indication: Autoimmune enteropathies.

Background Information: Enterocytes are epithelial cells found in the small intestine and colon. They are sometimes referred to as intestinal absorptive cells and have several functions. Autoimmune enteropathy, mainly found in children can be associated with anti-enterocyte antibodies and results in intractable diarrhoea associated with small bowel villous atrophy. It is a multisystem disorder and often responds to immunosuppression. The pathogenesis of autoimmune enteropathy is unknown [1]. It has been reported that enterocyte antibodies develop in only 50% of patients and is unclear if they precede or follow intestinal inflammation [1].

References: Freeman HJ. Adult autoimmune enteropathy. World J Gastroenterol. 2008. 14(8):1156-1158. Russo PA and Alvarez F. Autoimmune enteropathy: a review. Clinical and Applied Immunological Reviews. 2002. 2(4):203-216. [Ref 1] Russo PA, et al. Autoimmune enteropathy. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 1999. 2(1):65-71. Corazza GR, et al. Autoimmune enteropathy and villous atrophy in Adults. The Lancet. 1997. 350:106-109. Walker-Smith JA, et al. Autoantibodies against gut epithelium in child with small-intestinal enteropathy. The Lancet. 1982. 1:566-567.