Serum tissue transglutaminase 9.4u/mL

[verity15]

Hi all,

 

Having a lot of bloating, flatulence and excessive daily diarrhoea. Bloods were done and I've had the first one back. Serum tissue transglutaminase 9.4u/mL. When I looked up the range, my local area says anything more than 10u/mL is considered positive, other areas seem to have a different range with upper limits of 3, 5 and at most 7u/mL. I haven't had any more results back through, but should I be challenging for more testing at 9.4? I can't seem to find more info or anyone in a similar situation.

 

Thanks in advance!

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, verity15!

Different laboratories use different ranges for negative vs. positive, as you have found out. So, if the physicians in your "local area" all use the same laboratory for celiac antibody testing then the 10u/ml would be meaningful. At any rate, your numbers seem to be either borderline or weakly positive. Your physician may want to refer you to a gastro doc  for an endoscopy with biopsy, which is the gold standard test. It is critical that you eat normal amounts of gluten until all testing is complete. Otherwise, you will invalidate the results.

You may also have NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity) for which there is currently not diagnostic test. Celiac disease must first be ruled out. They share many of the same symptoms but NCGS is 10x more common and the antidote is the same, lifelong abstinence from gluten. The main difference is that NCGS does not damage the villi that line the small bowel.

 

[jpell237]

Hello, 

I am in a similar situation, TTG IgA is 7.4 (normal <12). I usually see all results <0.5. 

I am wondering if you are able to share the outcome of this. Did your doctor order further testing etc? 

Thank you! 

[Scott Adams]

Many test results now include a "Weak Positive" interpretation, but for some reason they don't include a "Weak Negative." In my opinion both of you are in that zone. Did you both eat ~2 slices of wheat bread daily for 6-8 weeks before your blood tests? If not, this can lead to a lower score, and a possible false negative result.