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Elevated DGP IgG, DGP IgA, tTG IgA with normal endoscopy 18 mos. post diagnosis

TinaV
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TinaV Newbie
TinaV
Posted

My labs are still quite abnormal - DGP IgG, DGP IgA & tTG IgA all elevated and Immunoglobulin A is low. My endoscopy at diagnosis was Marsh 3b and is now Marsh 0. My doctor is stumped. He said it’s possibly another autoimmune disease that hasn’t fully presented itself. I am curious to know if anyone else has experienced something similar with celiac disease, specifically abnormal labs with fully healed villi. If so, was the cause of abnormal labs ever determined?

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trents Grand Master
trents
Posted

Welcome to the forum, @TinaV! Even thought the labs are still elevated, do they show lower numbers than before going gluten free? How long have you been gluten free?

TinaV Newbie
TinaV
Posted
  • Author

I was diagnosed 18 mos. before the lab work in question. The part that is unusual is the complete healing of my small intestine and the very high numbers (they are lower but antibodies are still 3-5 times higher than normal values).

Just now, TinaV said:

I was diagnosed 18 mos. before the lab work in question. The part that is unusual is the complete healing of my small intestine and the very high numbers (they are lower but antibodies are still 3-5 times higher than normal values).

I’ve been strictly gluten-free since diagnosis.

trents Grand Master
trents
Posted

What symptoms were you experiencing pre diagnosis and have these symptoms abated since going gluten free? I'm wondering if you should look into the AIP diet. Gluten may not be the only offender your body is dealing with and there may be other autoimmune processes at work with other food triggers.

Scott Adams Grand Master
Scott Adams
Posted

For people with celiac disease hidden gluten in their diets is the main cause of elevated Tissue Transglutaminase IgA Antibodies (tTG-IgA), but there are other conditions, including cow's milk/casein intolerance, that can also cause this, and here is an article about the other possible causes:

 

 

TinaV Newbie
TinaV
Posted
  • Author

There was absolutely no hidden gluten found - I met with a dietitian and went through diet and every nonfood item as well, our home is entirely gluten-free & I went had several random stool tests in addition to achieving full healing of my small intestine as determined by the most recent biopsies. I have no unusual symptoms now - my GI doc says it’s possible the numbers could be related to a secondary autoimmune disease that hasn’t fully presented.

Scott Adams Grand Master
Scott Adams
Posted

The next step then might be to eliminate dairy/casein for a couple of months and get your levels checked again, and/or get thyroid screening done, etc., for things mentioned in the article.

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knitty kitty Grand Master
knitty kitty
Posted
2 hours ago, TinaV said:

There was absolutely no hidden gluten found - I met with a dietitian and went through diet and every nonfood item as well, our home is entirely gluten-free & I went had several random stool tests in addition to achieving full healing of my small intestine as determined by the most recent biopsies. I have no unusual symptoms now - my GI doc says it’s possible the numbers could be related to a secondary autoimmune disease that hasn’t fully presented.

Do you include dairy products in your diet?

Do you include gluten free breads and processed products?

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