Need help deciphering my results

[LAURA S.]

Hi - GE says I have celiac disease...but in searching on line for comparable test results to get a baseline on where I am vs. where I need to be is the ultimate rabbit hole!  I

t seems as if all testing facilities have there own scale?   How much easier would it be for everyone if the same scale/range was adopted world wide?  I digress - trying to stay out of the rabbit hole -which is why I am coming to you my new family.   Thanks in advance.

 

Endoscopy Pathology indicated Duodenal mucosa with a mild increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes, Gastric heterotopia. 

Celiac Serology

TISSUE TRANSGLUTAMINASE AB, IGG   2.0   U/mL *** this is the only test that did not rate High

TISSUE TRANSGLUTAMINASE AB, IGA   >250.0 H   U/mL 

GLIADIN (DEAMIDATED) AB (IGA)   >250.0 H   U/mL 

GLIADIN (DEAMIDATED) AB (IGG)   178.4 H   U/mL 

IMMUNOGLOBULIN A   626 H   Reference Range: 70-320 mg/dL *** I am guessing that since I am almost 2X the end scale for normal is an issue *** 

 

[trents]

Yes, your hunch is correct. There is no industry standard for laboratory reference values for celiac antibody testing. But this may help. In the UK it is common practice to grant an official diagnosis of celiac disease when tTG-IGA values are 10x the upper level for normal range or greater. But you still need to have access to the normal range used by the lab that analyzed your biopsies in order to be certain in evaluating the strength of your positive values. But, I've seen a lot of antibody profiles on this forum posted by lots of people and even though I cannot speak with precision your numbers look high enough to give an unequivocable and firm diagnosis. 

The immunoglobulin A value represents a total antibody test and is not particular test for celiac disease. However, if that one is low, which yours is not, it can give false negatives on the other values. Can you get more info from the doctor or the lab about the reference ranges used. If you go back for a follow-up antibody test, say in a year, to check progress, make sure the same lab is used if possible.

Edited August 11, 2022 by trents

[LAURA S.]

Thanks for the quick reply.  I actually have lab work scheduled Friday at the same facility so I will ask the phlebotomist if they have a scale they can share.

I also have iron deficient anemia which is why I ended up testing for celiac.  Infusions have not leveled out my numbers for 3 years with - infusions every 90 days.  Now that I am abstaining from gluten, I have begun daily liquid iron in lieu of infusions.  Hoping this will get better results as my gut heals...

[trents]

20 minutes ago, LAURA S. said:

Thanks for the quick reply.  I actually have lab work scheduled Friday at the same facility so I will ask the phlebotomist if they have a scale they can share.

I also have iron deficient anemia which is why I ended up testing for celiac.  Infusions have not leveled out my numbers for 3 years with - infusions every 90 days.  Now that I am abstaining from gluten, I have begun daily liquid iron in lieu of infusions.  Hoping this will get better results as my gut heals...

Have you been checked for pernicious anemia? It's a kind of anemia that results from an inability to assimilate B12, a necessary nutrient in the assimilation of iron itself? People with pernicious anemia lack "intrinsic factor" needed to assimilate vitamin B12.

[LAURA S.]

7 minutes ago, trents said:

Have you been checked for pernicious anemia? It's a kind of anemia that results from an inability to assimilate B12, a necessary nutrient in the assimilation of iron itself? People with pernicious anemia lack "intrinsic factor" needed to assimilate vitamin B12.

I will have to review hosp records from original IDA episode...but believe it was ruled out.  I am routinely tested for Vit B12 deficiency which I am not; iron and Vit D are my inadequate vitamins.  I take 50k units of Vit D weekly to maintain levels.

[trents]

Okay, just thought I'd ask.