Value of a screening algorithm for celiac disease using tissue transglutaminase antibodies as first level in a population-based study.

Objective: Serological screening for celiac disease (CD) can detect a large number of otherwise undiagnosed patients based on the sequential evaluation of serological tests and intestinal biopsy. The aim of this study was to compare the screening value for CD of two different protocols for the same community-based population.

Methods: We screened 1,000 consecutive subjects (497 women, age range 16-71 yr) attending a centralized laboratory for obligatory prenuptial blood tests.