Analysing blood test results

[LBell-Aus]

My 3.5yo daughter has just had a positive blood test result for celiac disease. We saw the paediatric gastroenterologist yesterday, and he's booked her in for a gastroscopy next month. His comments confused me a little, so I was hoping to get some feedback please while we endure the month-long wait. 

Her results were...

Deamidated Gliadin IgG (EIA): 21 (RR<20) Low positive

h-Transglutaminase ida recombination Ab (EIA): 58 (RR<4) Positive

 

After doing a fair bit of research, I believed that false positives did occur but were not common, and that a result greater than 10x the reference range was considered relatively significant and highly suggestive. However, he said that her results weren't too bad, as he often sees them in the hundreds or even thousands, but there was enough of a reason to continue with a gastroscope. When I asked what the likelihood was of her having celiac disease, he said about 60-70%. 

Obviously we'll find out for sure in a few weeks, but his comments confused me and almost felt a little dismissive. Either her result isn't as suggestive/high as I thought (and I've misunderstood the results), or he's perhaps misread the result and thought the RR for the tTG IgA was also <20. Thoughts please?

[GFinDC]

Hi, Any positive on a celiac antibody test is worth exploring further.  It only takes one antibody type to cause damage to the body.  I hope the doctor told you that the testing requires her to eat at least some gluten every day.  The tests are accurate if gluten is not being eaten daily before hand.

[cyclinglady]

I agree with GFinDC!  It only takes ONE positive on the panel. I tested only mildly positive to the DGP IgA only, yet I had moderate to severe intestinal damage.  Even in follow-up tests, I have never had an elevated TTG or EMA.   Your child had two positives.  

So, the test results were not off the charts?  Everyone is different.  Your daughter is only three and a half.  You were lucky because normally children under three do not develop as many antibodies at that age.  Maybe she would have more antibodies if she was older or maybe not.  

The celiac blood tests are very good, but not perfect.  It is why an endoscopy is still considered the gold standard in diagnosing celiac disease.  

Please, please make sure he is consuming gluten daily until the endoscopy is done and your GI tells you to go gluten free.  

 

[LBell-Aus]

Thank you. Yep, we’re giving her all her favourite gluten-full foods while we wait for the scope/biopsy.