Understanding My Labs

[SkyBlue4]

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. My question pertains to my lab results.

 

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) -               64 mg/DL -  range 70-410

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) -          1151 mg/DL - range 639-1349

Gliadin IgA Antibody -                        2 U/mL - range 0-15

Tissue Transglutaminase IgA Ab -   16 U/mL - range 0-15

Tissue Transglutaminase IgG Ab -   18 U/mL - range 0-15

 

No other Celiac tests were ordered. From what I have read, my labs are not really that off....but then again, I get confused reading through all the information about the labs. 

 

I have.... 

-Hoshimotos

-Latent autoimmune diabetes (currently no insulin or special diet required to maintain glucose levels). 

-Connective tissue disease vs polyarthritis (+ANA) 

-I have struggled for years with what was assumed to be IBS symptoms

-Vitamin D deficiency

 

I am anxious to know more about my Celiac status b/c my 11 yo son has been struggling for a year with a whole list of GI and other symptoms that seemed to point to celiac disease...but his blood work and biopsy were both negative. He is iron deficient and was just diagnosed with lactose intolerance but the lactose free diet has not helped his symptoms and he is not gaining weight. We continue to go through testing with the pediatric gastroenterologist to investigate other possible enteropathies and have been told that we could give the gluten free diet "a shot" as well. We just started him on a gluten free diet this week and now I have received my own lab results to muddle through. 

 

Any insight or opinions would be greatly appreciated! 

 

 

[GottaSki]

Welcome!

 

My guess is you indeed have Celiac Disease.  Here is the key:  You somehow managed to have a positive tTG-IgA while having insufficient Total Serum IgA. -- Immunoglobulin A (IgA) -               64 mg/DL -  range 70-410

 

They only ran AGA-IgA -- I would strongly suggest getting the following tests missing from your panel:

 

DGP - both IgA and IgG -- normally with insuffiecient Total IgA - I would not suggest the IgA version of this test, but since you hit possitive on the tTG I would keep it in.

 

EMA -- some labs automatically run and EMA when the tTG is possitive - but do ask your doctor to be sure the IgG version of this was run for you.

 

Given your symptom history and that of your child -- I would strongly suggest you go forward with an endscopy and associated small intestine biopsies -- it is important to try to have a GI with celiac biopsy experience do this if at all possible.

 

IMPORTANT -- do not remove gluten until all your testing is complete.   Then remove ALL gluten -- it may take some time, but I believe you will see improvement in all your symptoms.

 

Glad to hear your son is beginning to live gluten-free -- do not "try" this -- remove ALL gluten for at least three months -- I do think you will see improvement in him more quickly than yourself as he is younger and your symptoms are more autoimmune in nature.

 

Hang in there

 

Hope that wasn't too confusing...let us know if you have more questions.

[GottaSki]

PS...

 

Here is a thread that can help you and your family transition a bit more quickly to completely gluten-free for your son:

 

https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/91878-newbie-info-101/

[SkyBlue4]

Thank you for that information!

 

I wondered about the low total IgA result. Some information I had read seemed to indicate that it was not low enough to impact the tTG IgA and this confused me. 

 

Given my symptoms and family history, I would not be at all surprised by this diagnosis. I just wish things were clearer for my son. He's a tiny guy and cannot afford to go on without weight gain. We are being very strict with the gluten/lactose free diet....and trying to stay patient. Boy, I had no idea how expensive Gluten free bread products were!  

[nvsmom]

I completely agree with Lisa, not many can have a positive tTG IgA with a low serum IgA. Even though it's a low positive, it's quite a high tTG IgA for your IgA level.

 

With symptoms, a positive tTG IgA and tTG IgG, family history, and other autoimmune disease, I would say it is pretty likely that you have celiac disease. I hope you are both feeling better soon, and that you are able to get over your sticker shock.  LOL

 

I like this microwavable bun recipe but we use coconut flour instead of almond. It's nice because you can experiment with the different flours in small amounts until you figure out what works for you. https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/56641-easy-yummy-bread-in-minutes/  It saved me some sanity and a few bucks early on.  

[SkyBlue4]

I completely agree with Lisa, not many can have a positive tTG IgA with a low serum IgA. Even though it's a low positive, it's quite a high tTG IgA for your IgA level.

 

With symptoms, a positive tTG IgA and tTG IgG, family history, and other autoimmune disease, I would say it is pretty likely that you have celiac disease. I hope you are both feeling better soon, and that you are able to get over your sticker shock.  LOL

 

I like this microwavable bun recipe but we use coconut flour instead of almond. It's nice because you can experiment with the different flours in small amounts until you figure out what works for you. https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/56641-easy-yummy-bread-in-minutes/  It saved me some sanity and a few bucks early on.  

 

Thank for this recipe!

My son's biggest complaint has been about the texture of the gluten-free bread we're buying for him. I'll have find the flour and give this a try.

[nvsmom]

Toasting the bun helps it have the right texture if you nuke it. If you bake it, it will be less cake like and more bread like too.