Recurrent Miscarriage And Celiac?

[Rayrab]

After multiple miscarriages, despite the birth of a healthy son in2010, I started seeing a naturopath. She ordered a ton of blood work, including the panel for celiacs. I met with her yesterday and she believes I have it and wants me to do the genetic testing, which I have no problem with. However, I'm totally baffled that she would leap to celiacs given my results and my research here and elsewhere on the internet. 

 

I would really appreciate some feedback on these results: 

 

Deamidated Gliadin Abs, IGA <1 (negative 0-19)

Deamidated Glaiadin Abs, IgG 5 (negative0-19)

t-Transglutaminase  (tTG) IgA <2 (negative 0-3)

t-Transglutaminase (tTG) IgG <2 (negative 0 - 5)

Endomysial Antiody IgA  negative

Immunoglobulin A, Qn, Serum <15  Low (Negative 91- 414) 

 

From what I've read in my crash course in celiacs in the past 24 hours, the last one indicates that all the IGA tests are invalid. It seems most people recommend the tTG tests to rule out Celiacs, yes? So being that those are also negative, why would she assume celiacs? My understanding is that low IgA serum can be indicative of many immune deficiencies so why the leap to Celiac's? 

 

Also, I have been gluten-free for approximately 6 weeks, 5 when these labs were taken, merely because there is an association between gluten and recurrent miscarriage. From what I understand gluten would have to be out of my system for much longer than that to skew the tests in any way. Correct? 

 

There seems to be a lot of experience (unfortunately) here on these forums so I'm optimistic someone can calm my frantic mind before I can connect with my Naturopath again  

 

Thanks in advance!! 

[kareng]

Looks like she did every possible blood test and they are all negative. Even tho your IGA is low, they did the IGG version, too. Cleiac can cause miscarriages. Perhaps you should consult an MD OB/GYN?

[nvsmom]

You might want to consider an endoscopic biopsy if you think celiac disease is an answer (based on symptoms or familial history). Some people will have negative blood work and a positive biopsy - it's not common but it's not rare either.

 

Some people's antibody levels can fall to normal within weeks, for some it takes much longer. The problem is that there is no way of knowing which group you fall into except to resume eating gluten for about 6 weeks and then retest (the IgG tests that is).

 

Do you have other symptoms of celiac disease besides MC's (so sorry to hear about that) and low IgA that made your NP suspect celiac disease?  Are you feeling better gluten-free?

[emaegf]

Blood results as well as endoscope testing will Not be reliable since you are already gluten free.  More tham likely you may have false negatives do to being on a gluten free diet for the five weeks prior to testing.

 

The blood tests look for the antibodies your body produces in response to the gluten you eat so when you remove the gluten the body has nothing to form antibodies against so there none for the blood tests to read.  Yes you could still have villi damage that can only be seen by doing a endoscope and taking samples of the intestines. But depending on how badly the damage internally was there also may come out negative do to the damage healing which starts within 24 hours of total removal of gluten from the diet.

 

 

So your best option is the genetic test unless you're willing to go back to eating gluten for 6-12 weeks and then having the blood work and endoscope done. But still if you do have a gene linked to Celiac you may not actually have active Celiac so also do go to a reproductive specialist if you aren't already.

[IrishHeart]

Your celiac test results could well be invalid because you were off gluten. Hard to say.

 

If I were my 30-something year old self again (after having had multiple miscarriages and never carrying to term), I'd go to a reproductive endocrinologist. I know a whole lot more now than I did back then and one is:  Fertility doctors may not get to the root of the problem.

and the other is: Naturopaths have their value, but for this particular health issue, you need a specialist,  IMHO.

 

Could it be a gluten-related issue--and not necessarily celiac? absolutely. Plenty of medical lit that discusses this relationship.