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

Question regarding blood results (IgA deficiency)


kleggy

Recommended Posts

kleggy Newbie

Hi celiac.com peeps! This is my first post on here — a quick question: based on my results below, should I be pursuing DGP IgA and IgG and EMA testing?

I have been dealing with GI problems for the past 6 months. My physician suspects potential celiac based on all of my symptoms, and referred me to a GI specialist who immediately dismissed celiac, did a colonoscopy and biopsy, and then told me nothing was wrong/he ruled everything out, and prescribed me Question (cholestyramine) to bind bile as a band aid fix. That hasn't helped and I am in the process of seeking a new GI specialist. 

Last week my physician ordered a celiac panel (TTG IgA Antibody, Antiendmysial Ab IgA, and total IgA) and a tTG-IgG test, and I just received my results today. (Pasted below.)

Component Standard Range Your Value Flag
Antiendmysial Ab IgA Negative Negative  
TTG IgA Antibody 0 - 3 U/mL <2  
Negative 0 - 3
Weak Positive 4 - 10
Positive >10
Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) has been identified
as the endomysial antigen. Studies have demonstr-
ated that endomysial IgA antibodies have over 99%
specificity for gluten sensitive enteropathy.
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) 91 - 414 mg/dL 83 L
Component Standard Range Your Value Flag
TRANSGLUTAMINASE IGG 0 - 5 U/mL <2  
Negative 0 - 5
Weak Positive 6 - 9
Positive >9

Thank you for your help in advance! :-)

Kyle

EDIT: I am still eating gluten and have not yet tried an elimination diet. 


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



cyclinglady Grand Master

Yes!  Pursue the other celiac tests.  But you are IGA deficient (score 83), so that should give you a false reading on the DGP IGA test as well.  I am not IGA deficient, but I tested positive on ONLY the DGP Iga tests and all the others were negative yet I had a Marsh Stage IIIB biopsy results.  

 

 What were the biopsy results?  How many samples were taken?  You should have or get copies of all your records.  

 

ahearnsberger Newbie

The genet ic test I did only listed Anti-gliaden IgA. Mine was 11. Normal is less than 10. Anti-tissue Transglutaminase IgA is 6. normal is less than 10. I have HLA-DQB1*301 & HLA-DQB1*304. (Subtype 7,-)

From what I understand, I have 2 copies of the gene for celiac, meaning I'm predisposed to Celiac.  I'd appreciate any help interpreting it further.

 

cyclinglady Grand Master
56 minutes ago, ahearnsberger said:

The genet ic test I did only listed Anti-gliaden IgA. Mine was 11. Normal is less than 10. Anti-tissue Transglutaminase IgA is 6. normal is less than 10. I have HLA-DQB1*301 & HLA-DQB1*304. (Subtype 7,-)

From what I understand, I have 2 copies of the gene for celiac, meaning I'm predisposed to Celiac.  I'd appreciate any help interpreting it further.

 

It looks like you have a mild positive on the Anti-Gliadin IGA test.   A positive is a positive.  You only need one positive on the celiac blood panel.  The next step is obtaining biopsies via an endoscopy to confirm if you have celiac disease.   I suggest reasearching more on the University of Chicago's celiac website.  

Welcome to the forum!

kareng Grand Master
1 hour ago, ahearnsberger said:

The genet ic test I did only listed Anti-gliaden IgA. Mine was 11. Normal is less than 10. Anti-tissue Transglutaminase IgA is 6. normal is less than 10. I have HLA-DQB1*301 & HLA-DQB1*304. (Subtype 7,-)

From what I understand, I have 2 copies of the gene for celiac, meaning I'm predisposed to Celiac.  I'd appreciate any help interpreting it further.

 

Just to clarify - the IgA is not a genetic test.  The HLA tests are the genetic ones of some type

 

 

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

 

 

kleggy Newbie
On November 9, 2015 at 8:27:33 PM, cyclinglady said:

Yes!  Pursue the other celiac tests.  But you are IGA deficient (score 83), so that should give you a false reading on the DGP IGA test as well.  I am not IGA deficient, but I tested positive on ONLY the DGP Iga tests and all the others were negative yet I had a Marsh Stage IIIB biopsy results.  

 

 What were the biopsy results?  How many samples were taken?  You should have or get copies of all your records.  

 

Thanks so much for your help, cyclinglady. ? I am so appreciative of any advice coming my way during this pre-diagnosis period! I just went in for the DGP and EMA IgG blood draws yesterday — hoping they will indicate something for my next doctor's appointment.

ahearnsberger Newbie
16 minutes ago, cyclinglady said:

It looks like you have a mild positive on the Anti-Gliadin IGA test.   A positive is a positive.  You only need one positive on the celiac blood panel.  The next step is obtaining biopsies via an endoscopy to confirm if you have celiac disease.   I suggest reasearching more on the University of Chicago's celiac website.  

Welcome to the forum!

Thank you. It's nice to hear from people going through the same thing. 

 


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



ahearnsberger Newbie

I have been gluten-free for 3 years now, with the exception of cross  contamination here and there. Would my biopsies reveal anything at this point?

 

cyclinglady Grand Master
3 hours ago, ahearnsberger said:

I have been gluten-free for 3 years now, with the exception of cross  contamination here and there. Would my biopsies reveal anything at this point?

 

Hopefully, they would show healthy villi!  Experts normally just use the blood tests for diet compliance.  

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,556
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Rachel Wilson
    Newest Member
    Rachel Wilson
    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

    • Scott Adams
      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • 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.