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

Ttg Iga 14 - Not That High?


hazelnutty42

Recommended Posts

hazelnutty42 Rookie

I'm new here and have been reading through posts trying to find answers but didn't see anything about this specifically. I've had GI issues for a few years and finally had blood tests done and my TTG IgA was 14. I know that anything greater than 10 is positive but seems like most people here have numbers WAY higher (100+).  I have an biopsy and colonoscopy scheduled and my GI doc said there isn't much to say until he sees those results. He said 14 is technically celiac but he's "not convinced". Whatever that means. So is 14 just a little high? Not a big deal? Would love any feedback. Thanks! 


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



GottaSki Mentor

I'm new here and have been reading through posts trying to find answers but didn't see anything about this specifically. I've had GI issues for a few years and finally had blood tests done and my TTG IgA was 14. I know that anything greater than 10 is positive but seems like most people here have numbers WAY higher (100+).  I have an biopsy and colonoscopy scheduled and my GI doc said there isn't much to say until he sees those results. He said 14 is technically celiac but he's "not convinced". Whatever that means. So is 14 just a little high? Not a big deal? Would love any feedback. Thanks! 

 

Positive is positive.  One need not have extremely high numbers on any of the celiac antibody tests to have celiac disease.  There are a few reasons other than Celiac Disease that raise the tTG, but with digestive issues and positive antibody test it certainly sounds like celiac.

 

Did this doctor run a complete celiac antibody panel or just the tTG?

 

Here is a complete panel:

 

Total Serum IgA

tTG - both IgA and IgG

DGP - both IgA and IgG

EMA - IgA

 

As an example...all of my celiac antibodies were positive, but most were only "weak" positive, yet I had complete villious atrophy - all samples.

 

Keep eating gluten until the endoscopy and do make sure your doctor is planning to take 6-8 samples from the small intestine.

 

Welcome to the forum!

SMRI Collaborator

It's kind of like being pregnant--either you are or you are not :D

BlessedMommy Rising Star

^I was just about to say the same thing! :)

 

My pregnancy test with my oldest was a very "weak positive" but I was just as pregnant! 

nvsmom Community Regular

Welcome to the board.  :)

 

You are 40% over and above the normal range... doesn't seem that weak to me.  ;)  Yes, some of us had really high tests, but many did not - that's part of the reason this forum is so popular is because the testing can be soooo confusing.  There are also those out there who had completely negative blood tests but a positive biopsy.  And then there is the reverse where you get a negative biopsy but positive labs....

 

I very rarely see someone whose lab results all scream "Celiac!"  It's definitely the minority. LOL

SMRI Collaborator

Welcome to the board.   :)

 

You are 40% over and above the normal range... doesn't seem that weak to me.   ;)  Yes, some of us had really high tests, but many did not - that's part of the reason this forum is so popular is because the testing can be soooo confusing.  There are also those out there who had completely negative blood tests but a positive biopsy.  And then there is the reverse where you get a negative biopsy but positive labs....

 

I very rarely see someone whose lab results all scream "Celiac!"  It's definitely the minority. LOL

 

I think I am one of the few here that tested positive for every test, the IGA, IGG, genes, biopsy, etc.  I would also say that I am one of the least symptomatic people here too....so you just never know. :D.  I was being tested for other things and my dr tossed in the Celiac testing.  My only real symptom was D.  I had other symptoms that I didn't know where related until they went away or started getting better without gluten--brain fog especially--but since most of my friends report the same in perimenopause-I just attributed it to that.

hazelnutty42 Rookie

Thank you everyone. These are the blood tests that I know where done:

 

Celiac AB:

Deamidated Gliadin IgA--?

TTG IgA --14

Serum IgA Quantitation--?

 

I wasn't told any answers except TTG IgA . My primary doc was the one to call me and say the "gluten test was abnormal and you'll need to follow a gluten free diet". Then at my GI appt yesterday that doc didn't even mention the abnormal test until I asked him. He was only going to do a colonoscopy to check for colitis but I asked him what that test result was my other doctor was talking about. That made him go back to look - like he hadn't before! - and said the TTG IgA was 14 and so he would do a biopsy as well. He still wasn't convinced. My liver, etc were fine. I just wonder what he's not convinced about. 


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



SMRI Collaborator

Thank you everyone. These are the blood tests that I know where done:

 

Celiac AB:

Deamidated Gliadin IgA--?

TTG IgA --14

Serum IgA Quantitation--?

 

I wasn't told any answers except TTG IgA . My primary doc was the one to call me and say the "gluten test was abnormal and you'll need to follow a gluten free diet". Then at my GI appt yesterday that doc didn't even mention the abnormal test until I asked him. He was only going to do a colonoscopy to check for colitis but I asked him what that test result was my other doctor was talking about. That made him go back to look - like he hadn't before! - and said the TTG IgA was 14 and so he would do a biopsy as well. He still wasn't convinced. My liver, etc were fine. I just wonder what he's not convinced about. 

 

Without knowing the range the lab used, it's hard to say if it's "normal" or not.  My lab would have called you a weak positive and then referred you for further testing because lab errors could account for the 14 vs 10 or less that would signal a negative.  I would guess, given the GI's reaction, that your other tests were in normal ranges??  I would call the first dr and request a copy of the complete test results--or, if you have online access, they should be there.  My numbers were not 100+ high but my TTG IgA was 32, my TTG IgG was in the 65 range.  For my lab, anything over 20 was a definite positive but they still did the scope and biopsy for a baseline look and the gene testing.

cyclinglady Grand Master

My test results were "mildly positive" but the biopsy showed moderate to severe damage (Marsh Stage IIIB). My only symptom at the time was anemia and since I already had a genetic anemia and I was going through perimenopause (heavy periods), my doctors did not catch it. Only during a GI consult for a routine colonoscopy was my celiac disease caught (I seriously think my GI doc must have just attended a conference or recently read a paper about celiac diease.)

What was really shocking (and put me into denial), was the fact my husband had been gluten-free for 12 years. He went gluten-free per the advice of my allergist and his GP. Sinus infections, snoring, fatigue, body aches? Give up gluten. It worked!!!!!! We really would have like a formal diagnosis though!

GottaSki Mentor

Thank you everyone. These are the blood tests that I know where done:

Celiac AB:

Deamidated Gliadin IgA--?

TTG IgA --14

Serum IgA Quantitation--?

I wasn't told any answers except TTG IgA . My primary doc was the one to call me and say the "gluten test was abnormal and you'll need to follow a gluten free diet". Then at my GI appt yesterday that doc didn't even mention the abnormal test until I asked him. He was only going to do a colonoscopy to check for colitis but I asked him what that test result was my other doctor was talking about. That made him go back to look - like he hadn't before! - and said the TTG IgA was 14 and so he would do a biopsy as well. He still wasn't convinced. My liver, etc were fine. I just wonder what he's not convinced about.

Unfortunately not all gastroenterologists are well educated with regard to celiac disease. We should not have to convince our doctors...sadly it happens far too often.

Just a suggestion, but I would check if there are any celiac savvy GIs near you.

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      130,185
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    hollys
    Newest Member
    hollys
    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

    • trents
      First, welcome to the forum, @boy-wonder! Second, a little clarification in terminology is in order. Granted, inconsistency is rampant when it comes to the terminology associated with gluten disorders, but it has more or less become settled in this fashion: "Gluten intolerance" is a general term that car refer to either celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity). "Gluten Sensitivity" is the shortened version of NCGS. Third, Celiac disease is not an allergy to gluten. It is an autoimmune disorder characterized by gluten ingestion causing the immunes system to attack the lining of the small bowel, causing damage to it over time due to the constant inflammation that wears down the "villi" (mucosal finger-like projections that make up the lining). Over a significant period of time as gluten continues to be consumed, this generally results in impaired nutrient absorption. There are specific blood antibody tests available to check for celiac disease but the testing will not be valid while on a reduced gluten diet or a gluten free diet. Those already having having begun a gluten free diet must go back to consuming generous amounts of gluten for a period of weeks if they wish to pursue testing for celiac disease. Fourth, NCGS shares many of the same symptoms of celiac disease but does not damage the lining of the small bowel as does celiac disease. There is no test for it. A diagnosis for NCGS depends on first ruling out celiac disease. It is 10x more common than celiac disease. Some experts feel it can be a precursor to the development of celiac disease. Eliminating gluten from your life is the antidote for both. Fifth, you state that you are convince you don't have celiac disease by are just "gluten intolerant" (aka, gluten sensitive). How do you know that? It seems to me you are making a dangerous assumption here. I suggest you consider getting formally tested for celiac disease.
    • AllyJR
      Has anyone found a gluten free parakeet seed mix? I can't find a single one! My doctor wants me to make sure all pet food in the house is gluten free but I'm not sure if that's even possible with parakeets. We love our birds so much! I'm wondering if anyone has ever made their own bird seed mix if gluten free ones are not available. 
    • boy-wonder
      Hi, new member. About me, I had been suffering with weight gain, bloating and irregular and extreme bowel habits for a year or so. For example, I went on holiday in 2023, then again I  2024 at the same time of year and every shirt I wore in 2023 didn't fit anymore, couldn't even do the buttons up. Being in my mid 50s I put it down to age and middle aged spread. I'd been lucky all my life having good metabolism and being able to eat anything and as much as I like without putting on any weight, it drove my other half mad. Over a conversation with a friend health and age Related stuff came up and he mentioned someone he knew who had recently found out they were gluten intolerant,  I looked it up and had every one of 8 or so symptoms listed. Bloating,  weight gain,  headaches, brain fog,  constipation, etc etc. I took the decision to give going gluten free a try. Within 1 week I had lost 4 lb, now 7 weeks in I've lost 13 lb. I feel much better in general,  the bloating has severely subsided, it used to keep me awake at night as I felt so uncomfortable.  So pretty much a success story, as everyone here knows,  going gluten free isn't always easy, and eating out can be awkward,  but I consider myself lucky that I appear to have an intolerance rather than an allergy or being celiac.  I can deal with most of the gluten free options at the supermarket but, the big one for me is bread, I love bread, and the gluten free options I've tried are pretty poor. I was at a posh black tie event last night and chose all the food options I thought would be gluten free,  however,  there was bread on the table and I couldn't resist it, I had I small piece of bread,  god it was good, I wanted more but I resisted. Today I feel a bit dodgy, my stomach is churning, and I generally feel a bit urgh.  So here's the question, is that really down to 1 small piece of bread or is it coincidence?  I'd be interested in hearing how other people have reacted to a similar situation,  as I was considering having a day off every now and then and enjoying some lovely fresh bread.
    • ValerieC
      Does anybody know of a guide that ranks reevaluates universities and colleges in terms of their accommodation of celiac disease or food allergies?   Thanks in advance for any leads! Valerie 
    • thejayland10
      thank you, i have been doing that the last few weeks and will continue to do so. I had not had my ttg iga checked since I was diagnosed 14 yrs ago so I am not sure if they ever dropped below the 15-20 range.    all my other labs are completely normal but I am concerned that this may be signs of refractor celiac or something else since I'm so careful with gluten-free diet 
×
×
  • Create New...