Jump to content

  • 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):

Confused about test results

kalbright

Recommended Posts

kalbright Newbie
kalbright
Posted

I was wondering if someone could help interpret my blood test results. It appears to me to be a negative result, but in the notes my GI doc said, "Results are indicative of Celiac" so I am very confused. 

Tissue Transglutaminase Antibody, IGA <1

(<4 means no Antibody detected)

Immunoglobulin A: 215 

(Flag reference range: 81-463)

I would be most grateful for any help analyzing these results, if anyone feels moved to share their insight with me. Thanks so much!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

I wonder if all the results are not posted?  Ask the GI why he says a negative test means Celiac?   What did he recommend as your next step?  Don't be afraid to ask questions.  Its your body and health!

 

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

The tests he gave you are typically the screening tests.  If negative (like yours) but if the doctor still suspects celiac disease, he may order the complete celiac panel or proceed to an endoscopy.  Results can be negative if you were on a gluten free diet (or gluten light).  You must be consuming gluten daily for 8 to 12 weeks prior to the blood draw.  

Follow Karen's advice.  We do not have the entire picture here.  

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

Am I missing something here? It shows she's deficient in IgA which makes the tTG IgA of 215 pretty high even though it's "within normal range" -- that being normal range for those who are not IgA deficient. To have a result of 215 in a range of 81-463 when you're IgA deficient is a pretty big red flag I would think. The doctor realizes she has a false negative. Perhaps he wrote his notes the way he did, is to cover insurance requirements for further testing.

Karen & cyclinglady, am I on the right track?

For the OP:

 However, 3 percent of patients with celiac disease have IgA deficiency.

From:

Open Original Shared Link

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

Also see

Open Original Shared Link

especially the chart.

And see:

Open Original Shared Link

From the top of the chart you would go right as your IgA was less than 1 mg/dl

 

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted
8 minutes ago, squirmingitch said:

 

 

Am I missing something here? It shows she's deficient in IgA which makes the tTG IgA of 215 pretty high even though it's "within normal range" -- that being normal range for those who are not IgA deficient. To have a result of 215 in a range of 81-463 when you're IgA deficient is a pretty big red flag I would think. The doctor realizes she has a false negative. Perhaps he wrote his notes the way he did, is to cover insurance requirements for further testing.

Karen & cyclinglady, am I on the right track?

For the OP:

 However, 3 percent of patients with celiac disease have IgA deficiency.

From:

Open Original Shared Link

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

Also see

Open Original Shared Link

especially the chart.

And see:

Open Original Shared Link

From the top of the chart you would go right as your IgA was less than 1 mg/dl

 

I don't understand?  Looks like her total IGa is in the normal range?  Its 215?  Her TTG is less than 1.

And even if the total IGA had been lower than the range, the range is not for Celiac.  It needs to be less than 20 to be an issue for a Celiac ttg IGA test.

Edit to add Open Original Shared Link

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

No,  Kalbright is not IGA deficient.  Her initial screening was negative based on the information she posted.  I just pointed out that her doctor may continue to suspect celiac disease still (we do not know her symptoms).  She needs to talk to her doctor.  Maybe he can only order the TTG as a PCP or GP.  She might need a GI referral.  

BTW, I am not IGA deficient, yet my TTG IGA and IGG were negative (even on follow-up testing) but I had Marsh Stage IIIB (mod to severe) damage and only a positive DGP IGA.  I share that information because if my doctor had not ordered the entire celiac panel,  my celiac disease diagnosis would never had been caught.

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

Oh sorry, my bad. I misread. 

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted
48 minutes ago, squirmingitch said:

Oh sorry, my bad. I misread. 

No, continue to be vigilant!  I misread all the time.  I am usually in a hurry or feeling off/brain fog (should not respond at all but I like to help).  Luckily, we have other members who might be having a better day. 

Off topic.  Two bad things.  Went camping and missed a thyroid dose.  No wonder I needed a nap!  Duh!  Today we are working on taxes.  Need I say more?  

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

I can only say I was rushing to get dinner on. No excuse. Should have waited until after dinner & come back to the subject.

Ugh! 2 hits in one day! Taxes are so stressful! I managed to get mine done early this year and it feels so good not to have that hanging over my head.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      134,077
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      10,442
    terrificterry
    Newest Member
    terrificterry
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.7k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      Sigh. I posted this yesterday based on the Safeway website. I went back again today to their website to double check. On the page where they are selling Vanilla Bean flavor, it has a distinct Certified Gluten Free label. Other flavors on the Safeway website didn't have the gluten-free statement. Today I went into the store. None of the flavors I looked at, including Vanilla Bean, have a Gluten Free statement. Is it safe? Who knows. The ingredients are either safe or nearly safe (some have "natural flavor"). There are warnings about "contains milk and soy" but not about wheat - this implies they are safe, but again, who knows. On the other hand, every flavor I checked of their Slow Churn line of ice creams has wheat as an ingredient. 100% not safe.
    • knitty kitty
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Do keep in mind that many of the newly diagnosed have lactose intolerance.  This is because the villi lining the intestinal tract are damaged, and can no longer make the enzyme lactAse which breaks down the milk sugar lactOse.  When the villi grow back (six months to two years), they can again produce the enzyme lactAse, and lactose intolerance is resolved.  However, some people (both those with and without Celiac Disease) are genetically programmed to stop producing lactase as they age.   Do be aware that many processed foods, including ice cream, use Microbial Transglutaminase, a food additive commonly called "meat glue," used to enhance texture and flavor.  This microbial transglutaminase has the same immunogenicity as tissue transglutaminase which the body produces in response to gluten in people with Celiac Disease.  Tissue Transglutaminase (tTg IgA) is measured to diagnose Celiac Disease in blood tests.  Microbial Transglutaminase acts the same as Tissue Transglutaminase, causing increased intestinal permeability and inflammation.   New findings show that microbial transglutaminase may be able to trigger Celiac Disease and other autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.   Microbial Transglutaminase is not required to be listed on ingredients labels as it's considered a processing aid, not an ingredient in the U.S.  Microbial Transglutaminase has been GRAS for many years, but that GRAS standing is being questioned more and more as the immunogenicity of microbial transglutaminase is being discovered. Interesting Reading:  Microbial Transglutaminase Is a Very Frequently Used Food Additive and Is a Potential Inducer of Autoimmune/Neurodegenerative Diseases https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8537092/
    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      There is a 10 year old post in this forum on Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream. The information is somewhat outdated and the thread is closed to further comment, so here is a new one. Edy's And Dreyer's Grand Vanilla Bean Ice Cream - 1.5 Quart is labeled "Gluten Free". This is a different answer than years gone by. I don't know the answer for any other flavor at this moment. On 1 May, 2026, Edy's website says: "As a general rule, the gluten in Edy's and Dreyer's® frozen dessert products is present only in the added bakery products, such as cookies, cake or brownies. We always label the eight major food allergens on our package by their common name. We recommend to always check the label for the most current information before purchasing and/or consuming a product. The exception to this rule is our Slow Churned French Silk frozen dairy dessert, which contains gluten in the natural flavors." https://www.icecream.com/us/en/brands/edys-and-dreyers/faq It seems that Edy's and Dreyer's are more celiac-friendly than they were 10 years ago. Once I found enough information to make today's buying decision, I stopped researching.
    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      EDG 3 years ago fine, now it shows focal villous blunting,

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      probably not your situation @Mimiof2, but allow me to add one more to @trents list of celiac-mimics: "olmesartan-induced sprue-like enteropathy"  
    • knitty kitty
      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      My dad had an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.  Fortunately, it was discovered during an exam.  The doctor could feel my dad's heart beating in his stomach/abdomen.  The aneurysm burst when the doctor first touched it in surgery.  Since he was already hooked up to the bypass machine, my dad survived ten more years.  Close call! Triple A's can press on the nerves in the spinal cord causing leg pain.  I'm wondering if bowing the head might have increased the pressure on an aneurysm and then the nerves.   https://gulfcoastsurgeons.com/understanding-abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-symptoms-and-causes/ Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Presenting as a Claudication https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4040638/
×
×
  • Create New...