Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Please Shed Some Insight On This Blood Test

karat514

Recommended Posts

karat514 Newbie
karat514
Posted

Hello all: Could you please shed some insight on this blood test.  I have the results in hand and was told things are in normal range.  It reads as follows:

 

 

Test                                                                         

 

Tissue Transglutaminase IGA

>          Transglutaminase AB (IGA)                           Flag Reference

 

                             <1  (my result)                               <4 U/ML        | CPF

 

(that is exactly how it reads.  No more no less.)

 

 

Other than being told this was normal, I have no idea if this a pretty good indicator that I DO NOT have Celiac. 

 

Thank you in advance from someone who is frustrated 

 

 

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

I share your frustration that they ran only this one test :(   They did not even run the total serum IgA which would tell us if you make normal quantities of IgA and that therefore IgA testing can be relied upon.  Doctors are in love with the tTG but it can be negative in people who will test positive on other celiac blood tests like the DGP (a newer test, and more sensitive and more specific for the development of celiac, i.e., shows results earlier and damage less likely to be caused by something else if positive).  The EMA is also a very specific test for celiac but they don't normally run this unless the tTG is positive.  But your tTG IgA will not be positive if you do not produce normal quantities of IgA - so it's Catch 22.  Is there any chance of talking whoever ordered your test to also order:

 

Total Serum IgA

Deamidated Gliadin Peptide (DGP) IgA and IgG

karat514 Newbie
karat514
Posted
  • Author

I share your frustration that they ran only this one test :(   They did not even run the total serum IgA which would tell us if you make normal quantities of IgA and that therefore IgA testing can be relied upon.  Doctors are in love with the tTG but it can be negative in people who will test positive on other celiac blood tests like the DGP (a newer test, and more sensitive and more specific for the development of celiac, i.e., shows results earlier and damage less likely to be caused by something else if positive).  The EMA is also a very specific test for celiac but they don't normally run this unless the tTG is positive.  But your tTG IgA will not be positive if you do not produce normal quantities of IgA - so it's Catch 22.  Is there any chance of talking whoever ordered your test to also order:

 

Total Serum IgA

Deamidated Gliadin Peptide (DGP) IgA and IgG

Yes, I follow up on March 12 because on Feb. 18 I had a colonoscopy.  The reason being, Dr. leaning toward IBS but wanted to rule out other things before putting me on meds.  Said that I am at an age where things could go wrong (I'm 45).  Again, just to be on safe side. 

 

After colonoscopy when Dr was speaking with my husband, he told my hubby that test went well however, he did remove a polyp and took a few biopsies but didn't expect them to be a problem.  Therefore, he handed my husband a script for Levsin for me to take. 

 

I have not started meds.  I really do not want to take it if i can improve things with my diet.  With that being said, I have been wheat/gluten free for only one week now and compared to the way I was feeling, I feel amazing!  Still not 100% but feel very healthy like. 

 

A brief history- I was told I cried the first 2 years of my life because I had colic (was born in 67).  Always very sickly and skinny.  My mom said it wasn't until I had my appendix out (via emergency surgery at the age of 8) that I started to "fill out".  Therefore, she thought I must have been born with a bad appendix.

 

In 2003 I had my gallbladder removed so, all my bowel issues over the years, I blamed it on not having a GB.  Said "issues" mostly happens right after eating, sometimes, I haven't even finished eating and I'd be running to the bathroom.  Also, first thing in the morning as soon as my feet hit the floor i'd be running to the bathroom as well. 

 

Not to mention the bloating and gas so bad I looked pregnant and it hurt to touch as well.  And the exhaustion so bad that I would ask myself "am I really that lazy?"  I forced myself to get through days.  I'd go to bed tired and I'd wake up tired no matter how much I slept. 

 

Anyway, back to the blood test.  I'm no expert, but just from what I posted above...I'm NOT impressed! 

 

Love this site!   And have a great day!

K

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Welcome to the board. That you feel much better after being on the diet a week is a good sign that you are someone who needs to be gluten free. Now on to the bad news.... If you are going to have any more testing done for celiac you need to get back on gluten. Otherwise you risk a false negative. Too bad your GI didn't do an endo at the same time he did the other scope. That is what you need for celiac diagnosis. If when you add gluten back in your body reacts badly you do have the answer no matter what the tests results.

shadowicewolf Proficient
shadowicewolf
Posted

IBS is a symptom not a diagnosis, aka we have no idea what is going on with your gut.

karat514 Newbie
karat514
Posted
  • Author

IBS is a symptom not a diagnosis, aka we have no idea what is going on with your gut.

Agreed.  Hence the reason why I haven't been so quick to take the meds. 

karat514 Newbie
karat514
Posted
  • Author

Welcome to the board. That you feel much better after being on the diet a week is a good sign that you are someone who needs to be gluten free. Now on to the bad news.... If you are going to have any more testing done for celiac you need to get back on gluten. Otherwise you risk a false negative. Too bad your GI didn't do an endo at the same time he did the other scope. That is what you need for celiac diagnosis. If when you add gluten back in your body reacts badly you do have the answer no matter what the tests results.

Thank you.  I figured I'd just try gluten free on my own and until my follow up on the 12th.  I have to admit I feel so much better that I am not looking forward to going back to gluten even short term, but I will if I must.  Both tests done at once would have been ideal but, it is what it is. 

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

If you have been gluten free for only one week, it is not too late to get back on gluten right away.  That way you will not have to do a full challenge.  If you wait until the 12th, you will probably have to eat it for an additional six weeks, which will not seem very short term to you after having experienced the benefits of being gluten free (we always feel worse when we resume eating it :( )  As a matter of fact, depending on the relationship you have with the doctor, you can even call and ask him to mail you a blood slip for the other necessary tests or just stop by his office and pick it up and have the blood drawn right now; but do get back on gluten before it's too late. :unsure:    You can tell the doctor how much better you are feeling already!

karat514 Newbie
karat514
Posted
  • Author

If you have been gluten free for only one week, it is not too late to get back on gluten right away.  That way you will not have to do a full challenge.  If you wait until the 12th, you will probably have to eat it for an additional six weeks, which will not seem very short term to you after having experienced the benefits of being gluten free (we always feel worse when we resume eating it :( )  As a matter of fact, depending on the relationship you have with the doctor, you can even call and ask him to mail you a blood slip for the other necessary tests or just stop by his office and pick it up and have the blood drawn right now; but do get back on gluten before it's too late. :unsure:    You can tell the doctor how much better you are feeling already!

Oh thank you but that is not what I wanted to hear.  Lol.  I just assumed feeling better after only one week was not enough time to know for sure before I reintroduce gluten.  But if this is a gluten thing then six weeks eating gluten sounds worse.   Do I have to go crazy with the gluten or can I just have small amounts here and there? I guessing if this is a gluten issue even small amounts will make me feel like crap again. 

 

Thanks,

K

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

I would eat quite a bit the first day to make up for the days you haven't been eating it, but then just the equivalent of a slice or two of bread, or a few crackers or whatever.  No need to kill yourself :D   You just have to give the antibody factory enough raw material to work with :lol:   And yes, I'm sorry, it probably will make you feel like crap - or even worse.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,115
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Catherine Driscoll
    Newest Member
    Catherine Driscoll
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      GI DX celiac despite neg serology and no biopsy

      By trents · Posted

      If you were off gluten for two months that would have been long enough to invalidate the celiac blood antibody testing. Many people make the same mistake. They experiment with the gluten free diet before seeking formal testing. Once you remove gluten from the diet the antibodies stop being produced and those that are already in circulation begin to be removed and often drop below detectable levels. To pursue valid testing for celiac disease you would need to resume gluten consumption equivalent to the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread daily for at least two weeks, preferably longer. These are the most recent guidelines for the "gluten challenge". Without formal testing there is no way to distinguish between celiac disease and gluten sensitivity since their symptoms overlap. However, celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that damages the small bowel lining, not true of gluten sensitivity. There is no test available for gluten sensitivity so celiac disease must first be ruled out. By the way, elevated liver enzymes was what led to my celiac diagnosis almost 25 years ago.
    • trents
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By trents · Posted

      Then it does not seem to me that a gluten-related disorder is at the heart of your problems, unless that is, you have refractory celiac disease. But you did not answer my question about how long you had been eating gluten free before you had the blood antibody test for celiac disease done.
    • Xravith
      Taking Probiotics but Still Getting Sick After Gluten – Advice?

      By Xravith · Posted

      My genetic test results have arrived - I’m homozygous for DQB1*02, meaning I have HLA-DQ2. I’ve read that this is one of the genes most strongly associated with celiac disease, and my symptoms are very clear. I’m relieved that the results finally arrived, as I was getting quite worried since my symptoms have been getting worse. Next step, blood test. What do these results imply? What should I tell my family? I’m concerned that this genetic predisposition might also affect other family members.
    • Roses8721
      GI DX celiac despite neg serology and no biopsy

      By Roses8721 · Posted

      Two months. In extreme situations like this where it’s clearly a smoking gun? I’m in LA so went to a very big hospital for pcp and gi and nutritionist 
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      So far 3 months in - worsening symptoms. I have had the worst constipation in my life and I am primarily eating naturally gluten-free foods like potatoes, eggs, salad with homemade dressing, corn tortillas, etc. I hate gluten-free bread and pasta so I don't eat it. Occasionally I eat gluten-free almond flour crackers. As stated in the post, I don't have any vitamin deficiency. I was already tested.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.