The Circulating Midkine in the Newly Diagnosed Celiac Disease: Clinical Implications

BACKGROUND: Celiac disease (CeD) is a chronic inflammatory small intestine disorder caused by an abnormal immune response to an array of the epitopes of the wheat gluten and related proteins of rye and barley in genetically susceptible individuals. Midkine (MK) is an angiogenic cytokine, chemotactic in the direction of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and macrophages, and a T-regulatory cell suppressor. So far, a possible relationship with CeD has not yet been explored. Diagnosis of CeD is based on serologic test in a clinical setting suggestive of CeD and confirmatory histologic examination of the duodenal biopsy. Sometimes, genetic testing of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 may be needed. The objective of this study was to measure and compare the circulating MK in the celiac patients and healthy individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty newly untreated CeD cases and 20 normal controls were enrolled in this study. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the circulating MK in the celiac patients and controls. RESULTS: There was insignificant difference in the circulating MK between the patients and controls (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that the MK marker does not have any diagnostic value in CeD activity to be used at the time of diagnosis or during follow-ups.