Gluten sensitivity in autistic children in Central Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE To examine gluten sensitivity through the measurement of anti-gliadin antibody (IgA and IgG), anti-endomysial antibody (endo-IgA), anti-reticulin antibody (IgG) and anti-transglutamase antibody (IgG) levels in blood samples of autistic in the Riyadh area. METHODS The study took place in the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh between September 2003 and April 2004. Thirty-three autistic children, from the Riyadh area participated in the study, all with confirmed diagnosis according to E-2 diagnostic criteria for autistic spectrum disorders. Anti-gliadin antibody (IgA and IgG), anti-endomysial antibody (endo-IgA), anti-reticulin antibody (IgG) and anti-transglutamase antibody (IgG), were measured by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS Thirty-three autistic children with confirmed diagnosis (30 males and 3 females) participated in the study. A significant percentage of autistic children complained of constipation as compared to control. None of the autistic examined were positive for any of the antibodies tested, including anti-gliadin antibody (IgA and IgG), anti-endomysial antibody (endo-IgA), anti-reticulin antibody (IgG) and anti-transglutamase antibody (IgG). The same results were reached with the control group. CONCLUSION The present study demonstrated that gluten sensitivity is not a major cause in those autistic children examined.