Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity Or Celiac?

[Chelsea-Lynne]

I recently saw a gastroenterologist because I want to know if I officially have Celiac disease or if I just have a sensitivity to gluten. I had bloodwork done when I was younger, and the "Tissue Transglutam AB IGA" and "Gliadin AB IGA" were negative. My total IGA was 233, which was in range. The only thing that was positive was "Gliadin AB IGG, and it was 53 (Strong Positive). Those were the only tests I had done when I was younger, and my doctor didn't think I needed further testing. 

 

Today, I got the results back from my recent bloodwork. I had a Celiac Disease Complete Panel, even though I have been eating gluten-free for around 5 years. My gastroenterologist ordered it just to see I guess. My total IGA was 226, which is in range. The "Deamidated Gliadin Abs IgA" was 6, which is negative. The "Deamidated Gliadin Abs, IgG" was 2, which is negative. The "tTG IgA" and "tTG IgG" were negative as well. I also had the genetic testing done. It says negative for DQ2, but it says positive, one copy also for the alpha subunit I'm guessing. It said positive overall for DQ8, and positive, one copy for both the alpha and beta subunits. So I have one copy of the alpha subunit of DQ2 (overall negative) and one copy of each of the alpha and beta subunits of DQ8 (overall positive). 

 

My gastroenterologist said that I could still just have gluten sensitivity and not Celiac with these results. The only way to know for sure is to do a gluten challenge and have an endoscopy done. I'm planning on starting the gluten challenge in October after my school interviews. 

 

With this information, do you think it could just be gluten sensitivity and not Celiac? I'm hoping it isn't Celiac, so I won't have to be so strict about eating gluten free. If I actually had Celiac, would I have a reaction from a very small amount of gluten? I have had a Twizzler in the recent past without any issues.

[notme]

i have celiac, so no gluten no more never ever ever ever.  ever.  i think the ncgi's will probably tell you the same, but i am not them.  a twizzler (oh, i miss those...) will cause me to be sick for two weeks    

[Mum in Norway]

Some people with celiac are very sensitive, and some are not, and will not have any symptomes if they have gluten. With gluten sensitivity it's the same thing, some can have a little gluten, some are super sensitive. So your GI is right, only way to know for sure is to do a challange. It is importante to know, like you say, if you need to be very strict or not.

A negative celiac bloodtest after 5 years of beeing glutenfree is only to be expected. It could be eather one, but hope you get proper confirmation that it's 'just' sensitivity

[Chelsea-Lynne]

i have celiac, so no gluten no more never ever ever ever.  ever.  i think the ncgi's will probably tell you the same, but i am not them.  a twizzler (oh, i miss those...) will cause me to be sick for two weeks  

Aww, that must be horrible.

 

 

Some people with celiac are very sensitive, and some are not, and will not have any symptomes if they have gluten. With gluten sensitivity it's the same thing, some can have a little gluten, some are super sensitive. So your GI is right, only way to know for sure is to do a challange. It is importante to know, like you say, if you need to be very strict or not.

A negative celiac bloodtest after 5 years of beeing glutenfree is only to be expected. It could be eather one, but hope you get proper confirmation that it's 'just' sensitivity

Thank you. I'm really nervous to have an endoscopy done, but I really want an actual diagnosis.