Weird Blood Tests??? (Help!)

[DanilClent]

Hi,

I went to see a GP for digestive issue I was having and he recommended the ttg Iga test to rule out celiac, even though it was very rare from where I'm from, after mentioning my symptoms seemed to improve on a gluten free diet. I was largely avoiding gluten during that time.

The results came as 17 U/ml, which the doctor thought was high and ordered another test after a two week gluten challenge, and the results came back as <2 U/ml.

I'm just confused, does this mean I can rule out celiac?

(Thank you for your responses!)

[knitty kitty]

Welcome to the forum!

No, don't rule it out yet.

How long were you eating no gluten or low gluten?  

It takes about six to eight weeks to build up an autoimmune reaction that is measurable by those tests.  It is possible that you went gluten free long enough for your immune system to calm down and the two week gluten challenge was not long enough for your immune system to produce an inflammatory response large enough to be measured by the test.  

Do you have diabetes or anemia?  Those can affect autoimmune antibody production.

[DanilClent]

4 hours ago, knitty kitty said:

Welcome to the forum!

No, don't rule it out yet.

How long were you eating no gluten or low gluten?  

It takes about six to eight weeks to build up an autoimmune reaction that is measurable by those tests.  It is possible that you went gluten free long enough for your immune system to calm down and the two week gluten challenge was not long enough for your immune system to produce an inflammatory response large enough to be measured by the test.  

Do you have diabetes or anemia?  Those can affect autoimmune antibody production.

Thank you for your reply.

I don't have diabetes, I guess I don't have anemia either as my RBC levels are normal.

I was not on a gluten free diet but rather eating a small amounts instead of what I used to eat. During that time my results were 17 U/ml and doctor said it is positive but ordered another test after two weeks. I resumed eating gluten everyday in large quantities and this time my levels dropped down to <2 U/ml. Can those ABs drop so fast?

All my symptoms are pretty consistent with celiac tho.

[RMJ]

3 hours ago, DanilClent said:

During that time my results were 17 U/ml and doctor said it is positive but ordered another test after two weeks. I resumed eating gluten everyday in large quantities and this time my levels dropped down to <2 U/ml. Can those ABs drop so fast?

No, antibodies cannot drop that fast.  Something about this is strange.  Was the test run by the same lab?  Was it the TTG IgA test both times?  There are other blood tests for celiac antibodies - did the doctor order a different one?

[DanilClent]

11 hours ago, RMJ said:

No, antibodies cannot drop that fast.  Something about this is strange.  Was the test run by the same lab?  Was it the TTG IgA test both times?  There are other blood tests for celiac antibodies - did the doctor order a different one?

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, it's the same one both times.

That's what I've been thinking too, maybe I should take another one?

 

[RMJ]

I don’t think there’s any reason to believe one of the tests over the other, so that really leaves you with no answer!  Perhaps your doctor would be willing to reorder that test, and add in the rest of the celiac panel?

TTG IgA (repeat)

TTG IgG

DGP IgA

DGP IgG