Can someone explain to me this screening test for celiac disease.

[PhilHandy]

Tissue transglutaminase Antibody IGA (U/ml)

Celiac disease screening test

Test result: <^0.5 

Range: <12.0

Can someone explain to me what this screening test is supposed to mean?

Thanks in advance! ❤️

[trents]

Welcome to the forum community, @PhilHandy!

The Tissue transglutaminase Antibody IGA or, tTG-IGA for short, is the most common celiac blood antibody test ordered by physicians when checking for celiac disease. It combines good specificity with good sensitivity and is relatively inexpensive to run. However, it can produce false negatives in the case of those who have IGA deficiency or who have begun cutting back on gluten prior to the test blood draw.

Having said that, just taking your test result at face value, it does not indicate that you have celiac disease. Anything less than 12 U/ml is considered within normal range and your score is less than 0.5 U/ml. What is unfortunate is that your physician did not order a "total IGA" test to check for IGA deficiency. If IGA deficient, there are other blood antibody tests that can be ordered that would be more appropriate.

What are your symptoms? Why were you being evaluated for celiac disease? There is another gluten-related disorder known as NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity) which shares many of the same symptoms with celiac disease but for which there is not test and it is 10x more common.

Edited May 2, 2024 by trents

[PhilHandy]

Hey trents, thank you explaining the results and I will follow up with my physician about the total IGA test. 

Symptoms so far: 

- Fatigue -Bloating and gas - Gluten intolerant - Diarrhea (getting better since I've been taking probiotics) - Lactose intolerant - Chest pains (tighness on the left side of my chest that comes and goes, not sure if it's heart related 😞) - Light-headedness (every now and then.)

 

 

[PhilHandy]

It could simply be gluten intolerance instead of celiac disease. Not sure. I was recently diagnosed with vitiligo (low red blood cells). I know celiac disease may damage part of the small intestine which in result reduce nutrient absorption. 

Not sure if one has to do with the other (Vitiligo and celiac disease). It could also be mild anemia. Will have to get checked out to see if I'm anemic. It's a possibility.

[trents]

Although the terminology is still applied inconsistently, my perception is that there has been an evolution toward using "gluten intolerance" with reference to celiac disease and "gluten sensitivity" with reference to NCGS.

Isn't vitiligo loss of pigmentation in the skin? Did you mean to connect that with a red blood cell deficiency? There can be an association between vitiligo and celiac disease and other autoimmune disorders as well. But anemia is also a common symptom of celiac disease.

Edited May 3, 2024 by trents

[knitty kitty]

@PhilHandy,

Vitiligo has a connection with Celiac Disease.

 

Vitiligo and Autoantibodies of Celiac Disease

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3604853/

 

Anemia can affect not only red blood cell production, but also antibody production, resulting in false negatives.  The DGP IgG test should also be run, in addition to the total IgA test.  A genetic test for Celiac genes is helpful in diagnosing seronegative Celiacs.

Consuming sufficient gluten prior to blood tests for Celiac antibodies is important.  If you're not eating sufficient gluten prior to testing, the antibody production may not be high enough to measure in blood tests.  

 

Keep us posted on your progress!