Low frequency of anti-endomysial antibodies in recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

INTRODUCTION The aetiology of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) remains unknown. An association between RAS and coeliac diseases (CD) has previously been suggested, but the supporting evidence remains equivocal. The aim of the present study was to determine the likely frequency of CD in a large cohort of patients with well-defined RAS, by detailed haematological and serological analysis, including the detection of anti-endomysium and anti-reticulin antibodies. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study comprised 87 patients with minor RAS. Full blood counts and the presence of IgA anti-endomysial and IgA anti-reticulin antibodies were estimated in all patients. RESULTS The frequency of anti-endomysium and anti-reticulin antibodies was not elevated in patients with RAS and no patients with RAS had other serological features of CD. CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that there is little significant aetiological link between RAS and CD, and that screening RAS patients for key serological markers of CD is of little clinical value.