Question About Iga

[squirmingitch]

I'm a little confused as to the exact implications of the Endomysial IgA screening. I know it's pretty specific for celiac disease. If one is deficient then the other tests are skewed because of it. But is the screen only effective PRIOR to going gluten free or is it effective even after having been gluten-free for say 1 yr. & 5 mos.? I got to looking back at my tests & my IgA was negative but it was after I had been strict gluten-free for 17 months. Does this mean that I am IgA deficient?

[RMJ]

The total IgA is the test that will say whether you are IgA deficient or not. It measures all IgAs, not just those related to celiac. The endomysial IgA is only looking for one of the IgAs related to celiac, and you need to be eating gluten for it to be accurate. If the total IgA is deficient, then a negative endomysial IgA test doesn't mean much. Hope that helps, I don't know how much detail you want!

[nvsmom]

That sounds right.    IgA is immunoglobulin A which is just a measure of the activity in one part of your immune system.  Total IgA looks at the immune function of the mucosal linings of the intestines and mouth. IgG is more of a system wide part of the immune system. IgE deals with allergies...

 

About 5% of celiacs are deficient in IgA.  That will cause false negative in the tTG IgA, DGP IgA and EMA IgA (endomysial antibodies) tests.

 

The IgA is not a celiac test, but just a control test used to make sure the actual celiac tests are accurate (as possible).

[squirmingitch]

Thanks you guys! 

This lab report says Endomesial IgA, reflex titer Endomysial Screen so I wondered if it meant I am IgA deficient even though I was not consuming gluten. Okay, so it actually means I was dietary compliant right?

[nvsmom]

Thanks you guys! 

This lab report says Endomesial IgA, reflex titer Endomysial Screen so I wondered if it meant I am IgA deficient even though I was not consuming gluten. Okay, so it actually means I was dietary compliant right?

 

That's the EMA IgA celiac test.  It is really similar to the tTG IgA (tissue transglutaminase) but it tends to show more advanced damage so it can be negative in early celiac disease or in kids.  Once gluten-free, the EMA IgA will return to negative fairly quickly, especially compared to the ttG IgA. It should be negative if you are gluten-free.  It doesn't mean you are IgA deficient if you have a negative EMA IgA, but those who ARE IgA deficient will always have a negative EMA IgA celiac test.

[squirmingitch]

Gotcha. Thanks for that clarification.