Enterocyte antibodies

Autoimmune enteropathy is an entity reported primarily in infancy, resulting in intractable diarrhoea and associated with small bowel villous atrophy and the presence of circulating enterocyte antibodies. It is a multisystem disorder with a response, in many cases, to immunosuppressive therapy.

Differential diagnosis of autoimmune enteropathy and refractory sprue (coeliac disease)
Severe villous atrophy non-refractive to dietary restriction with circulating gut autoantibodies and/or associated autoimmune conditions, with a lack of severe immunodeficiency

Negative

Not currently performed in house; this test is referred to the Protein Reference Unit, Sheffield.