Antigliadin Antibodies in Psoriasis

Background/objectives: Although antigliadin antibodies (AGA) are markers of coeliac disease, elevated levels of these antibodies are also seen in many other autoimmune, neurological, haematological, collagen vascular and cutaneous disorders, even in the absence of clinically overt gastrointestinal disease. Several studies have reported an association between psoriasis and AGA, with improvement in severity of psoriasis on a gluten-free diet. This study aims to determine whether patients with psoriasis in Kashmir have an increased prevalence of elevated AGA.

Methods: A total of 120 patients (all native Kashmiris) with psoriasis and an equal number of age- and sex-matched controls without any personal or family history of autoimmune disorders were included in the study. Both groups were tested for IgA and IgG AGAs using a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.

Results: No statistically significant difference in the prevalence of AGA among patients with psoriasis (6.67% for IgA and 4.17% for IgG) and control group individuals (7.5% IgA and 5.0% IgG) was observed. The mean AGA levels in the two groups were not statistically different. Furthermore, no significant association between AGA levels and psoriasis severity, joint involvement, age of onset of psoriasis or arthritis was observed.

Conclusions: The results of our study show that AGA are not elevated in psoriasis patients as compared with a healthy population, and there is no association between AGA and psoriasis, its onset, severity and joint symptoms.