What Does The Iga # Mean In The Bloodwork?

[azmom3]

The dr. told me today that my son tested negative for celiac. He mentioned that the IGA number was not where it was supposed to be though. I need to get a copy of the test...i don't remember if he said it was too high or too low and I felt very rushed, so I figured it would be easier to question it later. In the meantime, does anyone know what this means...whether it's too high or too low? Thanks!

[mamaw]

Love those dumb doctors!!! IS that the only bloodwork - up that was done?????

[azmom3]

Love those dumb doctors!!! IS that the only bloodwork - up that was done?????

Again, I have to get a copy to be sure, but I think it was called the celiac panel (?) that was run.... I believe there were 3 different ones (IgA, IgG, and Ttg ??? Does that make sense?), but this was the only one that he pointed out that was "off."

BTW, his little brother tested positive on IgG by another doctor (and negative on the other two....and I have the paperwork to see for myself). He referred us to a GI, saying he MIGHT have celiac. We can't get in until the middle of October so we're still waiting to see what this other doctor has to say. In the meantime though, we decided to test both myself and our oldest son since we both have many of the symptoms.

My doctor sent me a card in the mail saying my tests were negative, but I have yet to see the numbers. I'm not sure what to make of any of this as I seem to get conflicting information depending on who I talk to.

HELP!!!

[stephtara]

I'd love to know the answer to this as well. My IgA result was 25 and my doctor told me it was "mildy positive". I have to go for more tests and I have an appointment with a new GI specialist next month. I can't find anything definitive online. Is 25 normal, positive or what?

Talk about frustrating! I wish doctors would read these boards and see how frustrating their vagueness can be.

Stephanie

[mythreesuns]

Is 25 normal, positive or what?

I just got a copy of my bloodwork for all three tests. I can't remember which was which, but for one 3 and below was negative, one was 4 and below, and the other one was 9 and below.

That's according to the lab that performed the test.

[FaithInScienceToo]

Is 25 normal, positive or what?

Stephanie

Hi - It depends on the Lab - different labs use tests from different companies, therefore the 'positive range' can vary from lab to lab -

After I was gluten-free for over 50 days, my IgA was 29, but the lab's test had a "positive" range as equal to or greater than 30...because I had been gluten-free for 50+ days and had a very-near-positive IgA, and a very positive response to the diet, my doc diagnosed me as having "Celiac Sprue."

So, check with your doc to see what your test print out indicates as 'positive' ...If 30+ is positive, and you've been eating gluten, then your test would be considered to be negative.

Please know, though, that Celiac Disease doesn't happen overnight - so, a 25 now may mean a 30 eventually, if you are 'on your way' to the full autoimmune disease process....

You may want to consider getting a genetic test done (Enterolab does a cheek swab test) - if you have one of the genes for celiac disease, I imagine that you should probably stop eating gluten, or eat a lot less of it, to keep the counts of your antibodies levels down...

That's my 2 cents, based on my understanding of the disease - others with more info/understanding might want to chime in here...

[mylady4]

I had one of the levels at 26.9 (?). My doctor said it was borderline but go ahead and try eliminating wheat. She then scheduled a biopsy and the GI said that I had to eat wheat until the test. I eat so much wheat products those couple of weeks I felt like I was going to explode. The biopsy showed no villia damage (but some other stuff). When I went back for my follow up after being gluten free for about 2 months they did the blood work again. I just found out that the levels from the second test were 12.3. My doctor said that this much reduction showed that I had celiacs. She seemed to believe more in the blood test then the biospy (thank goodness). If you had elevated level, eat gluten free and have the test redone and see if they drop. I think that mine were not real high because I never really ate that much wheat products to begin with. Get the numbers, change the diet and retest and see how it changes. Still, if you start to eat gluten free and feel better then go with it.

Good luck

Nicole

[par18]

I just got a copy of my bloodwork for all three tests. I can't remember which was which, but for one 3 and below was negative, one was 4 and below, and the other one was 9 and below.

That's according to the lab that performed the test.

That was exactly what the lab report I am looking at right now indicates. One test had normal 0-3, one test had normal 0-4 one test had normal 0-9 and one test had normal 0-5. On two of the tests there were weak positive ranges of 4-10 and 6-9. After being on the gluten-free diet for 15 months my value for each of the tests was the same number. It was a "1". I did test postive for one of the genes which did not surprise me since I had a positive biopsy last year. I did not have a blood test at that time. If a doctor looked at my bloodwork today I would not be diagnosed with Celiac. The lab that did my test is LabCorp. If I had it to do today I would test for the gene and if positive I would do the diet and see what happens.

Tom

[mamaw]

I have to go with par 18 on my personal labwork as I used labcorp also. And I also agree different labs have different readings.

It is so confusing since doctors don't seem to want to explain anything or even take time to answer ??????

I would fight for the DNA testing as I feel this is the best way to get results. For me ,if I had negative tests, still had health problems that doctors couldn't figure out and I tried the gluten-free diet and felt better I would stay on the diet no matter what doctors think.....By the way that is exactly how I originally got on the diet.Now my doctors have a little different attitude regarding my health status since I now am 80% better.....

mamaw

[azmom3]

I have to go with par 18 on my personal labwork as I used labcorp also. And I also agree different labs have different readings.

It is so confusing since doctors don't seem to want to explain anything or even take time to answer ??????

I would fight for the DNA testing as I feel this is the best way to get results. For me ,if I had negative tests, still had health problems that doctors couldn't figure out and I tried the gluten-free diet and felt better I would stay on the diet no matter what doctors think.....By the way that is exactly how I originally got on the diet.Now my doctors have a little different attitude regarding my health status since I now am 80% better.....

mamaw

So, if you have the gene, it just takes gluten adn a trigger, right? I would think almost everyone would end up with celiac who has the gene, wouldn't they? Or is it possible that a stressful event in someone's life might not trigger it for one person when it would for another?

[mamaw]

azmom3

not everyone who has the DQ2 gene develops celiacs.Plus all of the genes have not been identified yet. I think this is just the tip of the ice berg at present. other countries are so far advanced on this issue ,it makes US look like 3 yr olds in comparison.

celiac is so confusing, in fact when I first was told I was maybe intolerant and started my food search, i went to a store that had a nice suply of gluten-free. while there I met a doctor who deals with this in his everyday practice. very nice and he talked a long while with me about maybe intolerant & at that time a few years ago he said there is not such a thing and I was not celiac and if i continued with my approach I would make celiac & the ones who have it have trouble getting a real villi damage dx. I really never figured that one out but I know those of us who were not officially dx'd with villi damage, the others who were didn't seem to like us. like maybe we are fakes or something. I always tell them Ididn't do this for a fad diet. now it appears that has all changed and a new thought process is taking place where one can still have the disease without the villi damage.....it is getting better everyday and it chances quickly.now only if one of the new research studieswould truly work we all would be happy campers!!!!

the only problem I see about if you feel better do the diet thing (which I did) would be what if there is something else going on that the diet isn't helping , and that problem festers into a giant problem of something much greater than celiacs.I try to look at all the pros & cons then make my assessment from there. I think if you are in tune with your total body it will let you know yes, I feel better.No one really knows what another person goes thru even though their symptons may be the same. I know i'm not nearly as sensitive as some including our youngest one.

sorry for ranting on......

blessings

mamaw

[FaithInScienceToo]

azmom3

not everyone who has the DQ2 gene develops celiacs.Plus all of the genes have not been identified yet. I think this is just the tip of the ice berg at present. other countries are so far advanced on this issue ,it makes US look like 3 yr olds in comparison.

mamaw

To add-on:

I have HLA - DQ-8 - the gene found in only 5% of Celiacs.

When my 'obvious symptoms' developed I was in grad school. working 36 hours per week, had been held up a gun point and the robbers came back to the house during the night, and tried to brak in, so we had to move the next day to protect ourselves (as the gang was shooting people) ...and I was in a not-so-great marriage at the time...that's when the IBS started....then, it got worse after abdominal surgery for an ovarian tumor 2 years later, while I was teaching in South Central LA, pre and post the Rodney King riots - it was downhill from then on....until going gluten-free/CF!

The theory of stress setting off the genetically-prone-to autoimmune reaction would work for me...plus, dairy and gluten were mainstays in my diet...so, overload theory also would apply...

Whether or not there are other genes interacting...that is still being researched...

I believe about 5% of biopsy-diagnosed Celiacs do not have either the DQ-2 or HQ-8 gene...so, I guess that means there must be? another gene involved...

BUT....

IF someone is found to have one of the two genes - and, they are found in 40% of all people - it would be prudent, in my opinion, to at least cut back on gluten and stress, if there are no clinical signs of celiac disease...

Since one cannot completely control stress, though, and after all of my health problems from gluten, I would suggest that ALL patients with either gene should go gluten-free, IF I were a doc...

...that would be to prevent celiac disease from ever happening...and it would make contamination less of a problem, of course...because once celiac disease starts, it doesn't stop...and contamination is then an issue...

SO, if one has on of the KNOWN pre-disposing genes and one voluntarily stops gluten BEFORE celiac disease develops, then contamination is not so bad, as the small smounts you'd get probably wouldn't start the whole disease process....

BEST WISHES - Gina

[FaithInScienceToo]

Wanted to tack this on - I found it at:

Open Original Shared Link

ANTI-GLIADIN ANTIBODIES:

Both IgA and IgG anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) are detected in sera of patients with gluten sensitive enteropathy (celiac disease). IgG anti-gliadin antibodies are more sensitive but are less specific markers for disease compared with IgA class antibodies. IgA anti-gliadin antibodies are less sensitive but are more specific. In clinical trials, the IgA antibodies have a specificity of 97% but the sensitivity is only 71%. That means that, if a patient is IgA positive, there is a 97% probability that they have celiac disease. Conversely, if the patient is IgA negative, there is only a 71% probability that the patient is truly negative for celiac disease. Therefore, a positive result is a strong indication that the patient has the disease but a negative result doesn't necessarily mean that they don't have it. False positive results are rather uncommon but false negative results can occur.

[mamaw]

Faithinsciencetoo

wow, it seems you have had some horrible experiences.I too don't doubt celiacs can be brought on by stress and trauma.Dormant things have sneaky ways of surfacing. For me, I'm just so glad to feel better that I really don't care what the medical profession thinks of me..........

You brought back memories of the Rodney King story, he lived in or was from close by where I live.....

when I was a kid I had problems but no one ever mentioned this disease to my parents. I too went thru some rotten times in my life but I have a strong faith that has kept me sane.......

I love your kitty pic!!!!! And you are right on the with your add- on......

I hope your life is now terrific and enjoyable. Mine gets better as I age... Hate that age word..........

blessings

mamaw

[FaithInScienceToo]

Hey, there Mama :-)

Thanks for your kind message -

Yes...life gets better...I have 'faith' in Science...which is to me just part of our higher power, which of course takes all of us working together in loving interaction to materialize into goodness...

Without loving, and loving efforts, none of us would be happy...or become healthier with new Scientific info gained.

So - tonight I will toast my daily one glass of red wine to:

LIFE, LOVE, SCIENCE, HEALTH, and THE HIGHER POWER...whatever 'it' is, even if it is 'ONLY' the intelligence of life itself -

I feel this, though....it's not calculating...and doesn't pick out those to give any diseases to...disease is a random genetic, and/or environmentally caused thing...just another burden of our spiritual 'force' experiencing a physical reality... and since nothing physical is perfect, from what I can tell, there is illness to deal with...Sometimes I wonder: perhaps nothing is perfect and perfect is just a manmade concept? I don't know... Perhaps the idea of 'creation' itself is also a man-made concept...an artifact of consciousness? Perhaps life/energy 'just is,' and diseases 'just are' and there is 'no one up there or out there' to pray to...and we just need to keep doing the best we can to keep living.... and fighting against pain and sorrow...

Including helping those stuck in places like South Central LA

and, I'm OK if 'that's it'...if that's all there is...'cause Life is pretty great, even with the illnesses...it's awesome.

I do hope that my life is a long one, though...

Here's something significant: living into old age was something I could NEVER imagine before going Gluten-free Casein-free...so, Gluten-free Casein-free has given me hope for a long life....THAT's something!

OK - so there's my sage-ness for the year... sorry, if any thread readers got 'put off.' Hope not.

Best wishes to ya, Mama W,

Thanks, again -

Gina