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

Low IgA, dr won’t test IgG

Runningyogi

Recommended Posts

Runningyogi Rookie
Runningyogi
Posted

Just wondering how common this is. I had tTg-IgA and gliandin IgA tested and they both came back at 2, which is without a doubt a “negative result.” However my IgA was 48, the lab cited 79-335 as “normal” and flagged me as low. My PCP said the test shows no celiac, I had already googled and discovered the low IgA situation so I asked her about testing IgG and she said it wasn’t necessary. 

 

Is my IgA just not low enough? I obviously make the antibody just not at a normal level. 

Has anyone else been told this, if so did you push for further testing or get a second opinion? I’m mostly trying to just rule some things out, my son has EoE so it’s not totally unlikely im suffering from something more than IBS. Thanks!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted
5 minutes ago, Runningyogi said:

Just wondering how common this is. I had tTg-IgA and gliandin IgA tested and they both came back at 2, which is without a doubt a “negative result.” However my IgA was 48, the lab cited 79-335 as “normal” and flagged me as low. My PCP said the test shows no celiac, I had already googled and discovered the low IgA situation so I asked her about testing IgG and she said it wasn’t necessary. 

 

Is my IgA just not low enough? I obviously make the antibody just not at a normal level. 

Has anyone else been told this, if so did you push for further testing or get a second opinion? I’m mostly trying to just rule some things out, my son has EoE so it’s not totally unlikely im suffering from something more than IBS. Thanks!

Your total IGA is not too low for Celiac testing.  The test range isn't specific to Celiac.

"Any level of IgA above 20 mg/dl should make the tTG-IgA test valid, regardless of age."

Open Original Shared Link

 

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

Your Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is low or below range, but it is enough to determine if the celiac tests work.  It would have to be close to zero.    So, two negatives is probably correct.  However, some celiacs are seronegative.  Some, like me, do not test positive to all the celiac tests (DGP, TTG and EMA).  (I test positive to only the DGP).  Some people at the time of testing might gluten free or gluten light.  In those cases, an endoscopy may be ordered.  

Do you have any deficiencies like low iron or B-12?  That can also help determine a celiac diagnosis.  Or do you already have another autoimmune disorder, like Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis or autoimmune diabetes?  

I am sorry to hear about your son suffering;g from EOE.  

Runningyogi Rookie
Runningyogi
Posted
  • Author
41 minutes ago, cyclinglady said:

Your Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is low or below range, but it is enough to determine if the celiac tests work.  It would have to be close to zero.    So, two negatives is probably correct.  However, some celiacs are seronegative.  Some, like me, do not test positive to all the celiac tests (DGP, TTG and EMA).  (I test positive to only the DGP).  Some people at the time of testing might gluten free or gluten light.  In those cases, an endoscopy may be ordered.  

Do you have any deficiencies like low iron or B-12?  That can also help determine a celiac diagnosis.  Or do you already have another autoimmune disorder, like Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis or autoimmune diabetes?  

I am sorry to hear about your son suffering;g from EOE.  

I suffered from low iron for a few years but then had an IUD placed and my iron levels have been normal since.  No other autoimmune that I know of. Just a long history of IBS. 

Thanks for your help! 

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

I think they say that around 5% of people with celiac disease also have low IgA production.  I'd try another doctor for the complete celiac panel.  There are other antibodies they can test and you might show up positive on one of them.  Maybe search for local celiac support group and ask them for a doctor recommendation.

Runningyogi Rookie
Runningyogi
Posted
  • Author
12 hours ago, GFinDC said:

I think they say that around 5% of people with celiac disease also have low IgA production.  I'd try another doctor for the complete celiac panel.  There are other antibodies they can test and you might show up positive on one of them.  Maybe search for local celiac support group and ask them for a doctor recommendation.

 

Thank you! I am seeing lots of conflicting info on low IgA and how it affects the testing. It’s also difficult because when I search most results are for IgA deficiency and not low IgA (deficiency is the close to zero result from what I understand)

i did find a couple of sites that mentioned low IgA specifically and did say to check the IgG, but at this point I feel like a hypochondriac chasing a diagnosis. 

Anyway, thanks for your help everyone. I have a GI appointment next month so I just need to decide if I should trial myself off gluten before hand or wait on the off chance he wants to run another test. I’m just kind of sick of being sick and I’ve felt better off gluten in the past. (I was off gluten due to nursing my wheat, barley and rye allergic son for almost two years)

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
1 hour ago, Runningyogi said:

 

Anyway, thanks for your help everyone. I have a GI appointment next month so I just need to decide if I should trial myself off gluten before hand or wait on the off chance he wants to run another test. I’m just kind of sick of being sick and I’ve felt better off gluten in the past. (I was off gluten due to nursing my wheat, barley and rye allergic son for almost two years)

Please wait to go gluten free as if you go gluten free now the doctor won't be able to test you for celiac.  If your son is 'allergic' to wheat, rye and barley it sounds like he may be celiac. Your being diagnosed could help him as well as yourself.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Runningyogi Rookie
Runningyogi
Posted
  • Author
55 minutes ago, ravenwoodglass said:

Please wait to go gluten free as if you go gluten free now the doctor won't be able to test you for celiac.  If your son is 'allergic' to wheat, rye and barley it sounds like he may be celiac. Your being diagnosed could help him as well as yourself.

He actually outgrew the wheat allergy! Hooray!  He has traditional, IgE mediated, food allergies. He's still allergic to barley and rye.

I think it's probably best to leave the gluten in just in case, even though it really looks like celiac is not what I have. 

erika1petrus Newbie
erika1petrus
Posted

Hello ? I have low IgA. My doctor said that IgA is the immune protein that keeps one from getting sinus infections & breaks down gluten & dairy in the gut. With low IgA, a celiac test will come back with a “false positive”. I was told to treat myself as if I have celiac disease & that the consequences of eating gluten are the same. I am never supposed to eat gluten or dairy. Hope this helps!

tessa25 Rising Star
tessa25
Posted
21 minutes ago, erika1petrus said:

With low IgA, a celiac test will come back with a “false positive”

Low IGA can cause TTG IGA and DGP IGA celiac tests to show a false negative.

Welcome to the forum!

Runningyogi Rookie
Runningyogi
Posted
  • Author
4 hours ago, tessa25 said:

Low IGA can cause TTG IGA and DGP IGA celiac tests to show a false negative.

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks! It’s interesting because the link someone shared above says as long as the IgA is over 20 the test is accurate but I’ve read annecdotal stuff suggesting otherwise. 

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted
39 minutes ago, Runningyogi said:

Thanks! It’s interesting because the link someone shared above says as long as the IgA is over 20 the test is accurate but I’ve read annecdotal stuff suggesting otherwise. 

That link is pretty spot on.  The University of Chicago is a leading celiac research center.  We are discussing testing for celiac disease (used as a control test) and not issues with a low Immunoglobulin A and the health issues that arise from that. 

Some celiacs are seronegative period (rare).   If you think your IgA results are incorrect, then ask for the IgG test versions.   If you  and your GI strongly suspect celiac disease, your GI should order an endoscopy.  

You should remain on gluten until all testing for celiac disease is complete.  Since your GI appointment is just a month away, I would advise sticking to a full gluten diet.  Some research centers advise 2 to 4 weeks prior to an endoscopy.  We have seen too many members who just did 2 weeks and then received a negative biopsy result.  Was it because their bodies were slow to generate antibodies and two weeks was just not long enough?  Who knows?  Now they are in diagnostic limboland.  Use the more conservative number, would be my non-medical advice.  

Keep in mind, that sometimes we jump to conclusions with out all the facts.  I could have sworn my niece had celiac disease.  Turns out it was Crohn’s.  I could have sworn I had active celiac disease with my symptoms and an elevated celiac antibodies.  My recent repeat endoscopy revealed healthy villi.    My  current issues were with a new diagnosis — Chronic Autoimmune Gastritis. 

Runningyogi Rookie
Runningyogi
Posted
  • Author

Yeah sorry wasn’t trying to insinuate that the link was wrong. Also, i don’t have any strong feelings that I have celiac. I don’t know WHAT I have unfortunately! I was just trying to rule it out and then I had the low IgA which led to me to researching that and I was curious if that was indicative of something yadda yadda...I fell down an Internet rabbit hole. Lol

  • 3 months later...
pupppy Apprentice
pupppy
Posted

You have iga deficiency... it's called partial iga deficiency. Anything under the range is iga deficient and can invalidate the iga test. According to mayoclinic's algorithm they are supposed to run the igg tests so you are right. I don't know what that other link is saying, but I think you are right

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

pupppy Apprentice
pupppy
Posted

 

On 4/12/2018 at 3:45 PM, cyclinglady said:

Your Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is low or below range, but it is enough to determine if the celiac tests work.  It would have to be close to zero.    So, two negatives is probably correct.  However, some celiacs are seronegative.  Some, like me, do not test positive to all the celiac tests (DGP, TTG and EMA).  (I test positive to only the DGP).  Some people at the time of testing might gluten free or gluten light.  In those cases, an endoscopy may be ordered.  

Do you have any deficiencies like low iron or B-12?  That can also help determine a celiac diagnosis.  Or do you already have another autoimmune disorder, like Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis or autoimmune diabetes?  

I am sorry to hear about your son suffering;g from EOE.  

You're wrong. Partial iga deficiency is still iga deficiency and the doctor is supposed to run igg tests. 

pupppy Apprentice
pupppy
Posted
On 4/12/2018 at 3:42 PM, kareng said:

Your total IGA is not too low for Celiac testing.  The test range isn't specific to Celiac.

"Any level of IgA above 20 mg/dl should make the tTG-IgA test valid, regardless of age."

Open Original Shared Link

 

You and your link are wrong. Algorithms for testing state that if iga is out of range they should test for igg.

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,235
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    tkayj
    Newest Member
    tkayj
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      70k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • TerryinCO
      New Guy Here...

      By TerryinCO · Posted

      Thanks, Knitty Kitty. No, I'm just taking B12...also a vitamin D3.  For gerd - Pantoprozole. Trents, thanks for the links. There's a lot to digest there (pun intended), I'll have to read those a few times to grasp.
    • knitty kitty
      Biopsy results - second opinion?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Because of your anemia, you may not be making sufficient antibodies.  I hope they did a total IgA as well as the tTg IgA, and DGP IgG.  I hope you will share the results with us.  If your body isn't making a large amount of antibodies, then the intestinal damage would be less as well.  The antibodies attacking our own cells is what causes the damage. Anemia, diabetes, and thiamine deficiency can cause false negatives on antibody tests.  Have you been checked for nutritional deficiencies besides the ferritin?  Several vitamins and minerals are needed to correct iron deficiency.  Have you been taking any vitamin supplements? Positive on the genes, I see.  Increases the likelihood...  Good job on ramping up on gluten for the test!
    • ellyelly
      Biopsy results - second opinion?

      By ellyelly · Posted

      Thanks so much for the link and for your thoughts! I have been on a gluten - containing diet and ramped up my intake in the couple of weeks leading up to the endoscopy, so I’m hopeful that the biopsy is painting an accurate picture.    I don’t quite understand what else might be causing the lymphocytosis and the inflammatory cells/ clusters of plasma cells and struggled to get clarity from the specialist. Perhaps this is common and nothing to be concerned about?!   In case relevant, my mother sister are both celiac, and I have the genes: HLA-DQA1*05:01 = Heterozygous HLA-DQB1*02:01 = Heterozygous Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Biopsy results - second opinion?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @ellyelly! How much gluten were you eating in the weeks prior to the endoscopy?  Many people with indeterminate results had cut down or eliminated gluten from their diet beforehand.  This can lower the autoimmune response and decrease the symptoms (lower antibody levels,  reduced inflammation and intestinal damage may heal).   If you weren't eating a sufficient amount of gluten per day in a minimum of two weeks prior to the endoscopy, you may want to do another gluten challenge with repeat endoscopy. Here's an article that explains, be sure to read the comments.   
    • ellyelly
      Biopsy results - second opinion?

      By ellyelly · Posted

      Hi all, Such valuable insights shared here - I am so grateful to be able to read along! Thank you all for sharing your wisdom.  I (37yo female) have recently had an endoscopy to screen for celiac given a strong family history and extremely low Ferritin for the past 7 years (not responsive to oral supplements). I am awaiting celiac blood panel results (completed post-endoscopy to provide another piece of the puzzle, I think was just an accidental oversight not doing earlier).  The endoscopy results are as follows: Gastroscopy:  Stomach: Mild gastritis and one 4mm benign appearing inflammatory polyp in the body.  Duodenum: Largely normal but few shallow erosions seen in the duodenal bulb. Microscopy:  1. Sections show specialised and non-specialised gastric mucosa with increased numbers of chronic inflammatory cells within the lamina propria including occasional clusters of plasma cells amounting to mild chronic inflammation. No active inflammation, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia or malignancy is seen. Immunostains for Helicobacter organisms are negative. 2. Sections show small bowel mucosa with normal villous architecture. A mild non-specific intra-epithelial lymphocytosis is noted at the villous tips of uncertain clinical significance. The lamina propria contains a normal population of chronic inflammatory cells. No granulomas or parasites are seen. There is no dysplasia or malignancy. Conclusion 1. Gastric: Mild chronic inflammation 2. Duodemum: Mild non-specific intraepithelial lymphocytosis with preserved villous architecture.  The GI specialist, assuming blood tests come back normal, feels it is unlikely that it is celiac given the normal villous architecture. Suggested continuing on as usual and monitoring for symptoms etc, screening with blood test if required in the future.  Worth a second opinion or does this seem accurate? Anything else I should be considering? I feel a little lost as to how to best proceed! Thanks again.  
×
×
  • Create New...