Examinations
Examinations
Anti-Reticulin Antibodies (ARA) Test
Anti-reticulin antibodies (ARA) are serological markers used as an additional test for celiac disease.
Clinical Significance
- In children with celiac disease, anti-reticulin antibodies are found in 45-100% of cases.
- In adults with celiac disease, prevalence is 30-75%.
- These antibodies have high specificity (~96%) but low sensitivity (<60%), meaning they are less sensitive than anti-gliadin antibodies for diagnosing celiac disease in children.
- Anti-reticulin antibodies are detected in about 15% of first-degree relatives of individuals with celiac disease.
- Avoid smoking for 3 hours before the test.
- Take the test at least 2 hours after the last meal.
- Avoid physical and emotional stress for 1 hour before the test.
Indications for Testing
This test is recommended for individuals with:
- Symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease:
- Frequent diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Suspected celiac disease:
- Gluten intolerance symptoms (digestive discomfort after consuming grains)
Interpretation of Results
Positive Result May Indicate:
- Celiac disease (40-60% of cases)
- Dermatitis herpetiformis (~47% of cases)
- Sjögren’s syndrome (~17% of cases)
- Myasthenia gravis (~16% of cases)
- Vitiligo or alopecia (rare cases)
- Rheumatoid arthritis/polyarthritis (~10% of cases)
- Autoimmune endocrinopathies (slightly elevated antibody titers)