Test Results-What Do They Mean?

[Missdoodle]

I went to the Dr. for my yearly exam. While there she feels my stomach and starts asking about stomach issues, my heritage, ect. She says she wants to test me for Celiac. I have a high ANA and various other autoimmune symtoms (mouth sores, rashes, joint pain) and they haven't pinned down what could be causing all this yet. Well, the test came back and she strongly advises I start a gluten free diet. If symtoms don't improve in a month or so, I am to make an appointment with a GI. Below are my lab results. I am just wondering if there might be something else, but this seems to connect the dots and makes sense. And Celiac has been added to my health record as of now.

 

Immunoglobulin A 113 (standard range 81-426)

 

Gliadin IGA 19 (>10 positive)

 

Gliadin IGG 33 (>10 positive)

 

Tissue Transglutaminase IGA 83 (>10 positive)

 

Tissue Transglutaminase IGG 1 (>10 positive)

 

Thank you all in advance. If it is Celiac, I can tell this place will be a great resourse.

[shadowicewolf]

did you get the endoscopy yet? if so do it before the diet change.

[GottaSki]

Do not remove gluten just yet.

Those numbers clearly need referral to a gasterenterologist - preferably one with celiac experience - sadly not all GIs and Rhuematologists are experienced &/or up to date with current celiac research.

Welcome to the forum - be sure to read the newbie 101 thread and ask any questions you may have.

[guest134]

Were your gliadin test results "anti-gliadin" or "deamidated gliadin"? Anti-gliadin does not differentiate between autoimmune and non-autoimmune forms of gluten intolerance. That means that both Celiac and non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance as well as some "healthy" population samples will show up positive on the result while the deamidated is pretty specific to the autoimmune form, aka Celiac. 
 

[Missdoodle]

Thank you all for the responses. I don't know whether the gliadin was "anti-glliandin" or "demitdated gliadin". I have already slowing started to eat gluten free and have cleaned out my pantry. My GP says I most likely have Celiac, she will refer me to GI should my symptoms continue, as of now she is treating me to have Celiac. I am fine with the diagnosis and have accepted it as it really does connect so many dots. My stomach always "hates life" as I put it. It's never been happy, but I've always thought it was normal. Now I know it's not. I am just trying to understand what each test means in regards to Celiac.

[mushroom]

The Tissue Transglutaminase is the one test that the doctors mostly rely upon, which measures antibodies made in the small intestine.  While not completely specific for celiac disease, celiac is the most likely cause and your result was quite high.  If the Gliadin IgA was the Deamidated Gliadin Peptide(DGP) (which was also quite positive), then those two results in combination would put you pretty squarely celiac, because the DGP is very specific for celiac disease and you make sufficient quantities of IgA for the IgA testing to be valid for you (Immunoglobulin A).  However, if it was the AGA IgA, this is an outdated test not used much any more because it's not very reliable.

[GFinDC]

HI,

 

Your bodies immune system makes a variety of different types of antibodie cells.  IgA, IgG, IgE etc.  You can have a positive result on one type of antibodie but not on another.  But they all do damage to the gut if you have a celiac auto-immune response.  Basically, the immune cells attack your own tissue, instead of an outside invader.  That is what they mean by an auto-immune disease.

[Missdoodle]

Thank you all. At this point, my doctor is considering my diagnosed. Right now it seems a bit intimidating but I am sure that will lessen over time. I am hopeful that a gluten free diet will solve many of my auto-immune issues that I have and that doctors haven't pinpointed what the cause was (until now). Thank you all.