Jump to content

  • 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):

Only Aga Iga Was High?

jorona

Recommended Posts

jorona Newbie
jorona
Posted

Hi, I'm new here and trying to make sense of some lab results I received yesterday. I've had GI problems for about as long as I can remember (I'm 32 now) and every diagnosis that's been given so far has turned out to be wrong or only able to explain part of the problems I have. My new GI doc did a celiac panel that tested tTG, EMA, IgG and antigliadin IgA. The only one that was positive was antigliadin IgA, the normal range cutoff is 30 and mine was 49. He said that means I have celiac, but I was very skeptical that only one marker out of those 4 could give a definitive diagnosis and told him as much. So I requested more tests and he ordered the DQ2/DQ8 test and I will hear back on that next week.

 

Is it possible to have celiac with only the AGA IgA being high? Is there anything else he should be doing as far as tests? The crappy thing about my situation is that I'm losing my insurance on Monday due to divorce so the amount of time I have to look further into this is limited. I guess a trial on gluten-free diet would probably be my best bet after insurance runs out? Thanks!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


cavernio Enthusiast
cavernio
Posted

Yes you have celiac disease. IgA's the most recent, most valid test for it. They measure other tests because not all celiacs will be positive for the same things, eg: you might always have a low IgA, some genetic thing, in which case even with celiac disease it would be below the cut-off.

It's very confusing, but there's a ton of reading you can do , especially on this site, that explains the differences between all the tests and why some will be negative.

 

I think a more important question would be, why would your IgA be high if you don't have celiac disease?

jorona Newbie
jorona
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the reply. I was under the impression that AGA IgA/IgG tests were the oldest tests (from the 70s) and the least clear cut of the tests (EMA and ttG being more reliable indicators of celiac).  If I'm misunderstanding this please let me know. The clearest information I've been able to find is this from another website: "The antigliadin tests are less specific for celiac disease, and these antibodies sometimes show up in other diseases (including gluten sensitivity)." That's why I'm hesitant to accept a celiac diagnosis from just this one AGA IgA positive marker.

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

It's true that there's a newer test, the DGP IgA and IgG, with a much greater specificity for celiac and much more sensitive than the tTG in picking up early damage.  You could ask for this test to be run, but even were it not positive I would still be inclined to believe that you are indeed celiac since all it takes is one positive.  What symptoms does celiac not explain for you?

 

Welcome to the forum and I'm hoping you have found your answer.

Deaminated Marcus Apprentice
Deaminated Marcus
Posted

Hi Jorona,


I'm new too but I've been reading for a while.


You are correct, AGA-IgA and AGA-IgG is the older Celiac test.

In fact when I went to do the Celiac panel last week I was also supposed to be doing the AGA-IgA and AGA-IgG
but the lab no longer offered them and they told me it's now only DGP instead of AGA.

AGA-IgA and AGA-IgG is now used to test for Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity when it's available.
Still it's good news that you now know that you have Gluten sensitivity.

 

Here is the up to date Celiac blood test panel::

TtG-IgA Transglutaminase IgA AB
DGP-IgA Deaminated Gliadin IgA
DGP-IgG Deaminated Gliadin IgG

and:     Total IgA  (to make sure your body is producing enough of the IgA immunoglobulin)

 

The above Celiac panel covers all the bases as some people test positive for one or 2 and not another.

 

 

 

 

Archived

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

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

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      134,082
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      10,442
    Joe B
    Newest Member
    Joe B
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.7k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      Sigh. I posted this yesterday based on the Safeway website. I went back again today to their website to double check. On the page where they are selling Vanilla Bean flavor, it has a distinct Certified Gluten Free label. Other flavors on the Safeway website didn't have the gluten-free statement. Today I went into the store. None of the flavors I looked at, including Vanilla Bean, have a Gluten Free statement. Is it safe? Who knows. The ingredients are either safe or nearly safe (some have "natural flavor"). There are warnings about "contains milk and soy" but not about wheat - this implies they are safe, but again, who knows. On the other hand, every flavor I checked of their Slow Churn line of ice creams has wheat as an ingredient. 100% not safe.
    • knitty kitty
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Do keep in mind that many of the newly diagnosed have lactose intolerance.  This is because the villi lining the intestinal tract are damaged, and can no longer make the enzyme lactAse which breaks down the milk sugar lactOse.  When the villi grow back (six months to two years), they can again produce the enzyme lactAse, and lactose intolerance is resolved.  However, some people (both those with and without Celiac Disease) are genetically programmed to stop producing lactase as they age.   Do be aware that many processed foods, including ice cream, use Microbial Transglutaminase, a food additive commonly called "meat glue," used to enhance texture and flavor.  This microbial transglutaminase has the same immunogenicity as tissue transglutaminase which the body produces in response to gluten in people with Celiac Disease.  Tissue Transglutaminase (tTg IgA) is measured to diagnose Celiac Disease in blood tests.  Microbial Transglutaminase acts the same as Tissue Transglutaminase, causing increased intestinal permeability and inflammation.   New findings show that microbial transglutaminase may be able to trigger Celiac Disease and other autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.   Microbial Transglutaminase is not required to be listed on ingredients labels as it's considered a processing aid, not an ingredient in the U.S.  Microbial Transglutaminase has been GRAS for many years, but that GRAS standing is being questioned more and more as the immunogenicity of microbial transglutaminase is being discovered. Interesting Reading:  Microbial Transglutaminase Is a Very Frequently Used Food Additive and Is a Potential Inducer of Autoimmune/Neurodegenerative Diseases https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8537092/
    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      There is a 10 year old post in this forum on Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream. The information is somewhat outdated and the thread is closed to further comment, so here is a new one. Edy's And Dreyer's Grand Vanilla Bean Ice Cream - 1.5 Quart is labeled "Gluten Free". This is a different answer than years gone by. I don't know the answer for any other flavor at this moment. On 1 May, 2026, Edy's website says: "As a general rule, the gluten in Edy's and Dreyer's® frozen dessert products is present only in the added bakery products, such as cookies, cake or brownies. We always label the eight major food allergens on our package by their common name. We recommend to always check the label for the most current information before purchasing and/or consuming a product. The exception to this rule is our Slow Churned French Silk frozen dairy dessert, which contains gluten in the natural flavors." https://www.icecream.com/us/en/brands/edys-and-dreyers/faq It seems that Edy's and Dreyer's are more celiac-friendly than they were 10 years ago. Once I found enough information to make today's buying decision, I stopped researching.
    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      EDG 3 years ago fine, now it shows focal villous blunting,

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      probably not your situation @Mimiof2, but allow me to add one more to @trents list of celiac-mimics: "olmesartan-induced sprue-like enteropathy"  
    • knitty kitty
      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      My dad had an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.  Fortunately, it was discovered during an exam.  The doctor could feel my dad's heart beating in his stomach/abdomen.  The aneurysm burst when the doctor first touched it in surgery.  Since he was already hooked up to the bypass machine, my dad survived ten more years.  Close call! Triple A's can press on the nerves in the spinal cord causing leg pain.  I'm wondering if bowing the head might have increased the pressure on an aneurysm and then the nerves.   https://gulfcoastsurgeons.com/understanding-abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-symptoms-and-causes/ Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Presenting as a Claudication https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4040638/
×
×
  • Create New...