Unexpectedly Tested Positive For Gliadin Dp Iga!

[cdbroberg]

Good afternoon and thank you for reading my first post. 

 

I recently visited with an OBGYN MD with a focus in integrative medicine to find out why I was suddenly losing my hair. 

 

I mentioned to her that I had been feeling fine recently, but that I had severe gastrointestinal distress (diarrhea) over the summer which resulted in losing a significant amount of weight in a short time. I thought maybe this was why I started losing my hair in October. 

 

She inquired about which tests were given due to the GI distress (endoscopy, colonoscopy, blood, urine and stool tests-all normal). They did not, however, do the blood tests for Celiac, so she ordered those, along with thyroid, cbc, etc. for the hair loss. 

 

To my surprise, my gliadin deamidated IgA levels were high (11.2) 

 

Ref

<7 Negative

4-7 Equivocal 

>10 Positive 

 

My doc is not an expert in GI, so she recommended that I return to my gastro to review the results.  Everything I'm reading seems to state that a positive result on this test indicates Celiac.  

 

My gastro's website however states that: 

Other tests such as tests for gliadin antibodies are not as accurate because they can be abnormal in healthy patients who do not have celiac disease or in people with other digestive problems. 

 

 

Honestly, if she told me that these results do not indicate celiac, I would be over the moon, but I do want to get an accurate diagnosis. 

 

This along with the fact that she failed to do a celiac panel when I was sick makes me wonder about whether to return to her or find a new doctor.  Any thoughts on this issue?  Thanks in advance 

 

ETA: IgG (DP) was normal. 

[cyclinglady]

"Not as accurate....can be...."

That is not very definitive is it? So, it is not the best test, but like you, it was the only one on the complete celiac panel that I was positve on. So, I needed the endoscopy to rule out celiac disease. Turns out I had a Marsh Stage IIIB (moderate to severe damage). Yep, celiac disease! My only symptom at the time was anemia.

I think you may need to find another GI in order to get an accurate diagnosis. But I would first have a consult with your current GI. You can not believe everything posted on a website! . He may be willing to do the endoscopy again.

Keep eating gluten until all testing is complete. Be sure to get at least six biopsies as the intestinal wall is vast.

Get copies of all your files and lab tests. It is best to always have a copy in your possession.

I wish you the best!

[RMJ]

Tests for antibodies to gliadin and to deamidated gliadin peptides are different tests, the latter being newer and more specific.

[cdbroberg]

Thank you both for your responses.  I have an appt with my existing gastro next week and a more knowledgable doctor in April.  Since I tested positive for the deamidated peptite gliadin antibodies, should I continue to assume that I am will likely be diagnosed as positive for celiac?  

 

[cyclinglady]

Yes, based on my personal experience of having the same exact result. Keep dealing gluten until all testing is complete.

Here is some more information:

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

[nvsmom]

That test is about 93-96% specific to celiac disease - out of 100 positive tests, only 4-7 are caused by something else. Chances are you have celiac disease.... It irritates me when doctors dismiss a positive result just because all the tests are not positive - they rarely are. In the presence of celiac disease symptoms, which means you are not a healthy person, mst likely means celiac disease.