Dh

[elbar]

I have had an endoscopy, internal biopsy and the IgA antibody test and all reports are negative for celiac disease. However, I think I have DH (I am getting a skin biopsy tomorrow for the final piece of the puzzle) and have a question.

Could I still have DH with everything else, including blood work (my IgA was 3) being negative for celiac disease?

Thanks for your replies.

Elaine

[gf4life]

Yes, you could still have DH. There are a few problems with the other tests.

The endoscopy/biopsy can miss damage. In most people the damage is not complete it is patchy and it is hit-and-miss when they take the biopsies. They also need to take more than a few biopsies and most doctors take between 1-3 tissue samples.

The blood tests pick up levels of antibodies in the blood. These antibodies are made in the gut and "leak" into the blood through the damaged intestines. If there is not a detectable level of damage in the intestines, then it is possible the antibodies have not yet leaked enough to cause elevated levels in the blood. Although the reaction to gluten is still happening and you can be having many symptoms, including DH.

I have also heard that some people with Celiac have low levels of damage in the intestines BECAUSE the gluten is attacking other areas of their body. I have yet to see any real medical evidence of this, but it is a logical theory and could explain why so many biopsies come back negative when the patient is so terribly ill...

Let us know what the skin biopsy says.

God bless,

Mariann