Jump to content

  • 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

What Does Low Iga Mean?

kellysensei

Recommended Posts

kellysensei Apprentice
kellysensei
Posted

I just got an email from the lab saying "We cannot interpret your celiac disease blood test because of the low IgA level." Apparently, the range they consider normal is 91-414, and mine was 61.

 

What does that mean, that my IgA was low?

 

My liver enzymes were also significantly elevated, so I have to redo the blood test next week.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

Low total IgA means that you do not have enough for the tests to be valid.  IgA (antibody) is made in the mucosal lining of the intestines, which is a very large part of the immune system. When you have active Celiac, your body will be pumping out IgA like crazy. It's the antibody reaction that they are looking for. So.......the blood test for Celiac won't work for you. I am not sure if they can just do an IgG based test, which is another part of the blood work.  There is IgA and IgG tTg testing.  Most people go for the biopsy when their total IgA is too low.

 

Having elevated liver enzymes is very comon with Celiac Disease so that could be an added clue. They usually go down into normal once people are on the gluten-free diet for a bit.

kellysensei Apprentice
kellysensei
Posted
  • Author

I figured my tests wouldn't be valid, since I hadn't been eating gluten for a month at the time of the blood draw. But are my IgA numbers low *because* I hadn't been eating gluten? Would my numbers supposedly be higher on a gluten diet, even if I wasn't Celiac?

 

I'm not convinced quite yet that I have Celiac or even a gluten sensitivity...I just don't know. I had gluten accidentally on Thanksgiving, and the only thing that happened was that I got a headache three days later, so I can't really connect the two events. I think my next step, besides getting my liver enzymes retested, is to go back to gluten for a couple weeks and see what happens. If I feel it's affecting me, I'll do the Enterolab stool test.

worriedseattlemom Newbie
worriedseattlemom
Posted

My daughter has low IgA as well, so her celiac test was inconclusive. She has tested positive with more sensitive blood tests however. I don't know what these tests are, but there are supposedly more accurate than ELISA, which is what most labs/doctors use. Good luck! I hope you're able to figure this out soon!

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

Total IgA only checks to see if you make enough IgA antibody for the Celiac testing to be accurate/reliable.  It is not a diagnostic test for Celiac.   The DGP and tTg/IgA and tTg/ IgG are the ones that are used for an actual diagnosis.  Those who make sufficient IgA for testing will have a normal range that the IgA falls in between and that should be listed on any testing you have done.  If you have full blown Celiac that is undiagnosed, you may have elevated total IgA because your intestines would be a mess from eating wheat and would be pumping out antibodies like crazy. My total IgA at time of diagnosis was in the 700's and now that I have been gluten free for a long time, they fall into the normal range given by the lab. But I also failed all Celiac blood tests by HUGE numbers. Labs use different testing methods so the normal ranges are not standard in all labs...they can differ a bit.

 

The DGP tests for reaction to gluten that is ingested.  The tTg tests for damage to the intestinal tract. But any Celiac testing should include a Total IgA or you will not know the validity of all the other tests.  I would expect that if you came back with off the charts numbers for Celiac but didn't do the total IgA, it would be a moot point because of the other really high numbers.  I know this is very confusing and that's why it is so hard to get an ultimate answer.  If you do not have Celiac Disease, then I would imagine that your Total IgA would not become elevated as you would not be reacting to gluten. But Iga is made in the intestinal tract and everyone has it by differing numbers. It is part of your immune system.

 

It is very important to be ingesting gluten, as much as possible, for any blood draw.  Antibodies can go down quickly in some or may go down into normal range, even in the presence of Celiac, if they weren't very high to begin with.  You could have just tripped over the normal range for a positive but if you go gluten-free for a month, it could drop a few points and then they get a negative back......even if you do have Celiac.

 

worriedseattlemom......Elisa testing is for allergies, not intolerances like Celiac. Two very different animals.  If your daughter has low IgA, low enough that it is out of range low on the Total IgA, then any Celiac blood work would be inconclusive or negative, even if she has Celiac.  There are no other blood tests for Celiac, that I know of. Was she tested for allergies, as opposed to Celiac Disease? 

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,678
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    GGGrandpa
    Newest Member
    GGGrandpa
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Rejoicephd
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Rejoicephd · Posted

      That and my nutritionist also said that drinking cider is one of the worst drink choices for me, given that I have candida overgrowth.  She said the combination of the alcohol and sugar would be very likely to worsen my candida problem.  She suggested that if I drink, I go for clear vodka, either neat or with a splash of cranberry.   So in summary, I am giving ciders a rest.  Whether it's a gluten risk or sugars and yeast overgrowth, its just not worth it.
    • Inkie
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Inkie · Posted

      Thank you for the information ill will definitely bring it into practice .
    • Scott Adams
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      While plain, pure tea leaves (black, green, or white) are naturally gluten-free, the issue often lies not with the tea itself but with other ingredients or processing. Many flavored teas use barley malt or other gluten-containing grains as a flavoring agent, which would be clearly listed on the ingredient label. Cross-contamination is another possibility, either in the facility where the tea is processed or, surprisingly, from the tea bag material itself—some tea bags are sealed with a wheat-based glue. Furthermore, it's important to consider that your reaction could be to other substances in tea, such as high levels of tannins, which can be hard on the stomach, or to natural histamines or other compounds that can cause a non-celiac immune response. The best way to investigate is to carefully read labels for hidden ingredients, try switching to a certified gluten-free tea brand that uses whole leaf or pyramid-style bags, and see if the reaction persists.
    • Scott Adams
      Inconclusive results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is a challenging and confusing situation. The combination of a positive EMA—which is a highly specific marker rarely yielding false positives—alongside strongly elevated TTG on two separate occasions, years apart, is profoundly suggestive of celiac disease, even in the absence of biopsy damage. This pattern strongly aligns with what is known as "potential celiac disease," where the immune system is clearly activated, but intestinal damage has not yet become visible under the microscope. Your concern about the long-term risk of continued gluten consumption is valid, especially given your family's experience with the consequences of delayed diagnosis. Since your daughter is now at an age where her buy-in is essential for a gluten-free lifestyle, obtaining a definitive answer is crucial for her long-term adherence and health. Given that she is asymptomatic yet serologically positive, a third biopsy now, after a proper 12-week challenge, offers the best chance to capture any microscopic damage that may have developed, providing the concrete evidence needed to justify the dietary change. This isn't about wanting her to have celiac; it's about wanting to prevent the insidious damage that can occur while waiting for symptoms to appear, and ultimately giving her the unambiguous "why" she needs to accept and commit to the necessary treatment. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
    • Scott Adams
      Medication

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Welcome to the community! Generally, for a gluten challenge before celiac disease blood tests, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is considered safe and should not interfere with your antibody results. The medications you typically need to avoid are those like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) that can cause intestinal irritation, which could potentially complicate the interpretation of an endoscopy if you were to have one. However, it is absolutely crucial that you confirm this with either your gastroenterologist or your surgeon before your procedure. They know the specifics of your case and can give you the definitive green light, ensuring your surgery is comfortable and your celiac testing remains accurate. Best of luck with your surgery tomorrow
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.