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

I Don't Understand My Blood Test Results Help!

jjbrigade

Recommended Posts

jjbrigade Newbie
jjbrigade
Posted

I've been reading all about these test results and I don't understand what I have. There seems to be different wording for some of the tests and I don't understand my results. I know one is high, but does that mean I've got Celiac Disease, or just a gluten intolerance  Do I need to get the biopsy done? I've been gluten-free for 3 months now, would I need to go back to eating gluten before I get the biopsy done?

 

Here are my test results:

 

Immunoglobulin A: 427 (normal range 68-378)

Tissue Transglutaminase Antibody, lgA: 5 (normal range 0-19)

Gliadin lgA Antibodies: 5 (normal range 0-19)

 

thanks in advance for any assistance! 

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


HumanDecency Contributor
HumanDecency
Posted

I can't speak for going back to gluten. I have heard rumors of that but you may want to ask your doctor.

 

However, don't rely solely on these blood test results. If you were gluten free for 3 months that is more than enough time to come back with a negative blood test result. But anyway, talk to your doc and follow his suggestions we are all so different that it's hard to say. 

 

You're probably going to require a biopsy. 

Aprilelayne Newbie
Aprilelayne
Posted

I'm new to this as well, but I do recognize that the first exam, the one that is high is actually your control.  That IgA indicates you have enough antibodies to allow the following tests to be run. That is not indicative of celiac in of itself.

 

The following tests all show you currently in a 'negative' for celiac disease.

 

That is not to say you don't have it of course, especially with you having been glutenfree leading up to your blood tests.

 

There are others more familiar with reading the results, so please chime in :)

jjbrigade Newbie
jjbrigade
Posted
  • Author

I'm new to this as well, but I do recognize that the first exam, the one that is high is actually your control.  That IgA indicates you have enough antibodies to allow the following tests to be run. That is not indicative of celiac in of itself.

 

The following tests all show you currently in a 'negative' for celiac disease.

 

That is not to say you don't have it of course, especially with you having been glutenfree leading up to your blood tests.

 

There are others more familiar with reading the results, so please chime in :)

I wasn't gluten-free leading up to my test. I was tested 3 months ago and my doctor says that the high Immunoglobulin A test result indicates a gluten intolerance. But a gluten-free friend of mine said that if one of the tests comes back high that I have Celiac. I'm totally confused. So even though one of the tests came back high, I don't have Celiac? 

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Your test that is high, just means that you are able to make the antibodies the other tests look for.  A few people cannot make the right antibodies for the test, that is why they do that test.  You would need to be eating gluten to get an accurate biopsy.  Do you have an actual copy that you could fax or scan and email?  It sounds like your doctor is confused.  You could send the test results to Chicago and see what they say.  Then show that to your doctor.  They do require an actual copy of the printout from the lab.

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

 

 

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

 

 

"For most people, the serum anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG-IgA) is the best antibody blood test for screening for celiac disease; however, it is important to also get a total serum IgA. Having this total serum test will help bolster the reliability of the tTG test. The reason for this is that while the tTG test is very reliable, its reliability is dependent on the premise that the person being tested adequately produces IgA. If the individual does not produce sufficient amounts of IgA and is instead IgA deficient, then tTG-IgG should be tested instead."

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Open Original Shared Link

 

 

Also, there are currently no tests for non-celiac gluten intolerance.  You might want to share some of these links or print them out for your doctor.  Perhaps, he/she would consider them because they are from a medical center?

jjbrigade Newbie
jjbrigade
Posted
  • Author

Your test that is high, just means that you are able to make the antibodies the other tests look for.  A few people cannot make the right antibodies for the test, that is why they do that test.  You would need to be eating gluten to get an accurate biopsy.  Do you have an actual copy that you could fax or scan and email?  It sounds like your doctor is confused.  You could send the test results to Chicago and see what they say.  Then show that to your doctor.  They do require an actual copy of the printout from the lab.

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

 

 

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

 

 

"For most people, the serum anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG-IgA) is the best antibody blood test for screening for celiac disease; however, it is important to also get a total serum IgA. Having this total serum test will help bolster the reliability of the tTG test. The reason for this is that while the tTG test is very reliable, its reliability is dependent on the premise that the person being tested adequately produces IgA. If the individual does not produce sufficient amounts of IgA and is instead IgA deficient, then tTG-IgG should be tested instead."

Ok, I just want to make sure I understand what you are saying. If my Immunoglobulin A result was not high, then the test would have been inconclusive?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

If that test was low, you would need a different way to test for Celiac.  It looks like you make plenty of the antibodies they were testing you for. 

 

Obviously, your doctor doesn't understand Celiac testing.  That is why I suggested you read and give him some info from a reliable medical source.  He would not consider an internet forum a reliable source.  :blink:

jjbrigade Newbie
jjbrigade
Posted
  • Author

If that test was low, you would need a different way to test for Celiac.  It looks like you make plenty of the antibodies they were testing you for. 

 

Obviously, your doctor doesn't understand Celiac testing.  That is why I suggested you read and give him some info from a reliable medical source.  He would not consider an internet forum a reliable source.  :blink:

Thank you so much! I've sent an email off to Chicago. I will wait and see what they say. Thanks!!! 

Archived

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

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

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,803
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    MaryAlice
    Newest Member
    MaryAlice
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Samanthaeileen1
      Thoughts? Non-endoscopic Celiac diagnosis in two year old

      By Samanthaeileen1 · Posted

      thank you RMJ! That is very helpful advice. Good to know we aren’t crazy if we don’t do the endoscopy. We are going to try the gluten free and see how symptoms and levels improve.    thank you Wheatwacked (love the username lol) that is also reassuring. Thankfully she has an amazing and experienced pediatrician. And yesss I forgot to mention the poop! She has the weirdest poop issues.    How long did it take y'all to start seeing improvement in symptoms? 
    • Wheatwacked
      Thoughts? Non-endoscopic Celiac diagnosis in two year old

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      My son was diagnosed when he was weaned in 1976 after several endoscopies.  Given your two year old's symptoms and your family history and your pediatrition advocating for the dx, I would agree.  Whether an endoscopy is positive or negative is irrelevant.   That may happen even with endoscopy.  Pick your doctors with that in mind. In the end you save the potential trauma of the endoscopy for your baby.   Mine also had really nasty poop.  His doctor started him on Nutramigen Infant because at the time it was the only product that was hypo allergenic and had complete nutrition. The improvement was immediate.
    • RMJ
      Thoughts? Non-endoscopic Celiac diagnosis in two year old

      By RMJ · Posted

      So her tissue transglutaminase antibody is almost 4x the upper end of the normal range - likely a real result. The other things you can do besides an endoscopy would be: 1.  Genetic testing.  Unfortunately a large proportion of the population has genes permissive for celiac disease, but only a small proportion of those with the genes have it. With family history it is likely she has the genes. 2.  Try a gluten free diet and see if the symptoms go away AND the antibody levels return to normal. (This is what I would do). Endoscopies aren’t always accurate in patients as young as your daughter. Unfortunately, without an endoscopy, some doctor later in her life may question whether she really has celiac disease or not, and you’ll need to be a fierce mama bear to defend the diagnosis! Be sure you have a good written record of her current pediatrician’s diagnosis. Doing a gluten challenge for an endoscopy later in life could cause a very uncomfortable level of symptoms.   Having yourself, your husband and your son tested would be a great idea.  
    • Samanthaeileen1
      Thoughts? Non-endoscopic Celiac diagnosis in two year old

      By Samanthaeileen1 · Posted

      here are the lab ranges.  Normal ranges for tissue transglutaminase are: <15.0 Antibody not detected > or = 15.0 Antibody detected normal for endomysial antibody is < 1.5. So she is barely positive but still positive. 
    • JoJo0611
      Just diagnosed today

      By JoJo0611 · Posted

      I have been diagnosed with coeliacs disease today after endoscopy, bloods and CT scan. I have also been diagnosed with Mesenteric Panniculitis today. Both of which I believe are autoimmune diseases. I have been told I will need a dexa scan and a repeat CT scan in 6 months. I had not even heard of Mesenteric Panniculitis till today. I don’t know much about it? Has anyone else got both of these. 
×
×
  • 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.