Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • 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

Interpreting First Coeliac Serology Results

KCG91

Recommended Posts

KCG91 Enthusiast
KCG91
Posted

Hi all,
 

I had some bloodwork done and I'm a little confused by the results as I haven't yet seen my GP for him to explain them to me. The tests read like this:

Anti TTG (IgA) Tissue Transgl. 128.000u/mL (0 - 6)

IgA Coeliac 1.510g/L (0.8-3.7)

Am I right in thinking the first test indicates coeliac disease, as what I've found online seems to indicate 10+ u/mL as positive? 128 seems really high in comparison! I have no idea what the second line means. Are the values in brackets the expected/normal/healthy ranges?

What is the possible Anti TTG (IgA) range for someone with coeliac disease - as I said, 128 seems crazy when 10 is a positive result.

So confused, why do all the antibodies etc have to sound so similar?!
Thanks in advance.







 

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


GF Lover Rising Star
GF Lover
Posted

The numbers in brackets are the ranges.  The TTG is positive, If the " IgA coeliac " test is actually the EMA IgA total serum then that is normal showing the TTG could be a false positive.  You really need to review them with your Doctor who can take the blood tests, any symptoms and your history all into consideration. 

 

All the best.

 

Colleen

KCG91 Enthusiast
KCG91
Posted
  • Author

Thanks Colleen! I thought the TTG was positive but yeah, it's the IgA that's confusing. Seeing the doc on Friday but just trying to do my homework as it's a locum...

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

I would have guessed the IgA coeliac was the total serum IgA, which is a control test to make sure you make enough IgA for your IgA tests to be accurate - you'd want it right in the middle of the range and it is. I don't remember the units but these look different than what I'm used to. Is this in the UK?

 

The EMA IgA is usually done as a ratio... I forget the correct term. When I had a positive EMA it was written as 1:40 without any units.

 

Anyway, your tTG iGA was very positive. Are you going gluten-free now or are they doing a biopsy on you first?  Either way, welcome to the club and I hope you feel better soon.

KCG91 Enthusiast
KCG91
Posted
  • Author

Thanks Nicole! Yes, I'm in the UK which has made understanding the results a bit trickier as most of the information covers the tests done in the US, they seem to be slightly different.
 

I'm having another blood test on Friday - celiac panel maybe? - as my first tests were done at home (England) and I'm now back at university in Scotland and the NHS doesn't share info across the border. When I got my first results back in mid Sept I cut out gluten straight away as I needed all the help I could get for an upcoming marathon (26.2 miles with the runs = not fun). I started eating it again yesterday, so hopefully the two weeks off won't affect the results too much. I'm not keen on the biopsy just yet as it's my final year of uni so I just want to feel better and not mess around with hospitals - I'll probably have it done in a year or so when I have time to feel crap for three months... I just wanted more clarification from the bloods, partly to help 'convince' family and flatmates to take it seriously!

Is there any level of anti TTG IgA where coeliac is pretty much certain and a biopsy might not be so necessary? I read that this was suggested as 100 in kids?

Thank you :)

GF Lover Rising Star
GF Lover
Posted

Because the TTG IgA can also point to other autoimmune diseases, the Doctor will take all tests into account to determine Celiac Disease.  The Doctor can make a differential diagnosis of Celiac and not go forward with the Endoscopy if he believes there are no other issues to consider.  This is completely up to the Doctor. 

 

Good Luck,

 

Colleen

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

At the ICDS, the doctors were saying that a TTG of over 100 means Celiac.  I guess it doesn't get that high with other diseases.  They still want to biopsy, especially adults or patients they think might have other issues.  They can do a colonoscopy at the same time and rule out a lot of additional problems.  The endoscopy isn't an operation.  It takes, at most,  a day of your life. 

 

Keep eating gluten.  If you were only off for 2 weeks, and your TTG was that high, you should be good.  The doctors at the ICDS did a study about Celiacs eating gluten.  They fed Celiacs who had gotten their TTG back to normal gluten for 2 weeks.  At 2 weeks the TTG wasn't positive but 2 (I think 2, might have been 4) weeks later, after stopping the gluten, it was positive.  It takes a while for us to stop making it.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

I was going to say something along the same lines. It is usually the weak positives that can be sometimes be caused by things like diabetes, crohn's, colitis, liver disease or thyroiditis. Your result is about 22 times the upper normal limit. It would be pretty safe to say celiac is the cause.

I hope you feel better soon.

KCG91 Enthusiast
KCG91
Posted
  • Author

Thanks everyone. My family and friends don't really get it yet so this post has stopped me running off to the only person I know with coeliac disease - my ex boyfriend! Not who you want to discuss your insides with ;)

 

My test on Friday is a full blood count so presumably that will clarify things a bit further. If I still want a biopsy that's a 3-4 month wait... My liver, kidney and thyroid functions have already been checked and I don't have the symptoms for Crohn's or colitis. In fact I have hardly any at all (a tiny bit of bloating and cramps and marginal anaemia) which is good in a practical sense but also scary that my immune system has (probably) been secretly been munching on my intestines!

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to maryannlove's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      1

      Yasso frozen yogurt bars - be careful

      Thanks for sharing this! Talk about frustrating! It is complicated enough to try to keep track of which products are safe, but the concept of the same product sold at 2 different stores--one that is certified gluten-free and one that isn't--that is exactly why having celiac disease is still so difficult, and it is so easy to make mistakes!
    2. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to cristiana's topic in Traveling with Celiac Disease
      1

      UK Visitors: Award Winning Flapjackery in the West Country (and Chichester, West Sussex)

      It's great that this business has celiac disease awareness and uses gluten-free oats! I wish more restaurants would make such simple changes, for example if Asian restaurants switched to using gluten-free soy sauce, many (but not all!) risks would be eliminated for lots of their dishes. My daughter works at a Vietnamese restaurant where the owner is keenly...
    3. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jmartes71's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      1

      Frustrated

      It sounds like you’ve been doing everything right—strictly avoiding gluten, managing food allergies, and advocating for yourself—yet you’re still dealing with severe pain, exhaustion, and other debilitating symptoms. The fact that your colonoscopy came back clear after 31 years gluten-free is a testament to your diligence, but it doesn’t erase the very real...
    4. Beverage
      - Beverage replied to Betsy Crum's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      Chest pain from celiac

      Could you be having acid reflux? I used to get it soooo bad before I was diagnosed, now very rarely. I didnt have stomach upset, aka silent reflux, but pain in chest (thought I was having a heart attack) and food would get stuck from the esophagus irritation. The things here really helped, especially raising head of bed, sip of apple cider vinegar before...
    5. Wheatwacked
      - Wheatwacked replied to Mrs. Cedrone's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      4

      Canker sores

      Studies have shown that individuals with canker sores tend to have lower levels of vitamin D in their blood compared to those without the condition. This suggests that vitamin D deficiency could be a risk factor for developing canker sores. Vitamin D deficiency is very common in Celiac Disease.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      130,412
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Saharon
    Newest Member
    Saharon
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Yasso frozen yogurt bars - be careful

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Thanks for sharing this! Talk about frustrating! It is complicated enough to try to keep track of which products are safe, but the concept of the same product sold at 2 different stores--one that is certified gluten-free and one that isn't--that is exactly why having celiac disease is still so difficult, and it is so easy to make mistakes!
    • Scott Adams
      UK Visitors: Award Winning Flapjackery in the West Country (and Chichester, West Sussex)

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It's great that this business has celiac disease awareness and uses gluten-free oats! I wish more restaurants would make such simple changes, for example if Asian restaurants switched to using gluten-free soy sauce, many (but not all!) risks would be eliminated for lots of their dishes. My daughter works at a Vietnamese restaurant where the owner is keenly aware of celiacs, and he has made the switch to gluten-free soy and fish sauces. 
    • Scott Adams
      Frustrated

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It sounds like you’ve been doing everything right—strictly avoiding gluten, managing food allergies, and advocating for yourself—yet you’re still dealing with severe pain, exhaustion, and other debilitating symptoms. The fact that your colonoscopy came back clear after 31 years gluten-free is a testament to your diligence, but it doesn’t erase the very real struggles you’re facing daily. It’s concerning that previous doctors dismissed your celiac diagnosis, and now you’re left fighting for validation while dealing with unexplained symptoms like eye pressure, skin issues, and relentless pain. Menopause and long COVID may be complicating things further, making it even harder to pinpoint the root cause. Are you sure your diet is 100% gluten-free? Do you eat in restaurants...if so, this can be a source of contamination. Trace amounts of gluten over time could explain your symptoms. Many people with celiac disease have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful:    
    • Beverage
      Chest pain from celiac

      By Beverage · Posted

      Could you be having acid reflux? I used to get it soooo bad before I was diagnosed, now very rarely. I didnt have stomach upset, aka silent reflux, but pain in chest (thought I was having a heart attack) and food would get stuck from the esophagus irritation. The things here really helped, especially raising head of bed, sip of apple cider vinegar before meals with protein, heel thumping, and until it healed, taking DGL after meals to coat...do NOT take antacids https://drjockers.com/acid-reflux/ DGL https://www.amazon.com/Integrative-Therapeutics-Rhizinate-Deglycyrrhizinated-Licorice/dp/B001WUC406/  
    • Wheatwacked
      Canker sores

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      Studies have shown that individuals with canker sores tend to have lower levels of vitamin D in their blood compared to those without the condition. This suggests that vitamin D deficiency could be a risk factor for developing canker sores.  Vitamin D deficiency is very common in Celiac Disease.
×
×
  • Create New...