Reviewer's report
Title:Intestinal biopsy to diagnose celiac disease is not always required:
Importance of combined antibody tests
Version: 2Date:29 July 2012
Reviewer: Jocelyn Silvester
Reviewer's report:
The authors calculated PPV and NPV for histologic findings of celiac disease in a
population with a high pre-test probability of celiac disease. Based on cut-offs
derived from this population, they then determined which combination of tests
might obviate the need for intestinal biopsy in the same population. The cut-offs
were not validated in a second population.
Minor essential revisions
1. The discussion contains contradictory statements regarding the content of
European guidelines for diagnosis of celiac disease. [second sentence first
paragraph and final paragraph]
2. Abstract – objective misspelled.
3. Table 2 - 1% and 2% are false positive and false negative rates, respectively,
not NPV of positive test and PPV of negative test.
4. Table 3 – first column header – should this be fn?
Discretionary revisions
1. The patients with celiac disease were older than the controls. Was this
difference significant?
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests.
Reviewer's report
Title:Intestinal biopsy to diagnose celiac disease is not always required:
Importance of combined antibody tests
Version: 2Date:29 July 2012
Reviewer: Jocelyn Silvester
Reviewer's report:
The authors calculated PPV and NPV for histologic findings of celiac disease in a
population with a high pre-test probability of celiac disease. Based on cut-offs
derived from this population, they then determined which combination of tests
might obviate the need for intestinal biopsy in the same population. The cut-offs
were not validated in a second population.
Minor essential revisions
1. The discussion contains contradictory statements regarding the content of
European guidelines for diagnosis of celiac disease. [second sentence first
paragraph and final paragraph]
2. Abstract – objective misspelled.
3. Table 2 - 1% and 2% are false positive and false negative rates, respectively,
not NPV of positive test and PPV of negative test.
4. Table 3 – first column header – should this be fn?
Discretionary revisions
1. The patients with celiac disease were older than the controls. Was this
difference significant?
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests.
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Intestinal biopsy to diagnose celiac disease is not always required:
Importance of combined antibody tests
Version: 2Date:29 July 2012
Reviewer: Jocelyn Silvester
Reviewer's report:
The authors calculated PPV and NPV for histologic findings of celiac disease in a
population with a high pre-test probability of celiac disease. Based on cut-offs
derived from this population, they then determined which combination of tests
might obviate the need for intestinal biopsy in the same population. The cut-offs
were not validated in a second population.
Minor essential revisions
1. The discussion contains contradictory statements regarding the content of
European guidelines for diagnosis of celiac disease. [second sentence first
paragraph and final paragraph]
2. Abstract – objective misspelled.
3. Table 2 - 1% and 2% are false positive and false negative rates, respectively,
not NPV of positive test and PPV of negative test.
4. Table 3 – first column header – should this be fn?
Discretionary revisions
1. The patients with celiac disease were older than the controls. Was this
difference significant?
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests.
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