Background: Permanent changes have been found in intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) subsets in patients with celiac disease.
Objective: The main aim of this study was to demonstrate the utility of determining CD3()/CD7(+) and T cell receptor (TCR) gamma-delta IEL subsets by flow cytometry as a diagnostic marker of adult celiac disease.
Patients and methods: We performed a prospective study in a sample of 128 adult patients (70 with celiac disease and 58 controls). In all patients, distal duodenal biopsy was performed and IEL subsets were determined by flow cytometry.
Results: Patients with celiac disease showed an increase in gamma-delta IEL subsets and a decrease in CD3(-)/CD7(+) IEL subsets in comparison with the control group, independently of diet.
Conclusions: The results indicate that IEL subset determination by flow cytometry could be useful to confirm diagnosis of celiac disease. IEL subsets should be investigated in diseases other than celiac disease, as well as in patients with potential or latent celiac disease.