Trying to understand my test results

[MimiTo5]

My results says <2 , further down it states that Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) has been identified as the endomysial antigen. Studies demonstrated that endomysial IgA antibodies have over 99% specificity for gluten sensitive enteropathy. I just got these results and have not heard anything from my doctor. If I’m reading correctly it sounds as though I tested positive for Celiac disorder. I would appreciate any feedback I could get.

Thank you!

[trents]

No. "Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) has been identified as the endomysial antigen. Studies demonstrated that endomysial IgA antibodies have over 99% specificity for gluten sensitive enteropathy " Is simply saying that the test ordered is appropriate as a diagnostic tool for celiac disease. You do not give a reference scale to compare your score to so we don't know what range the lab used for establishing negative vs. positive. There is no industry standard. Each lab creates their own tests and develops their own reference ranges. But that is a very low score number so unless it is marked "positive" on the report I would assume it you are negative for that test. By any chance, had you already started cutting back on gluten before the blood draw was taken?

[MimiTo5]

Thank you for your reply, no I had not started to cut back on my gluten before the test. The only real numbers I see on the test results are; Results: <2. Positive: >10, I should probably add that I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Myasthenia Gravis. I did have most all the symptoms of Celiac but between the Fibromyalgia and the MG some days it’s hard to tell which one is causing what. I REALLY appreciate your help so for now I can put this to the side and see what my doctor says. Have a wonderful week.😊

[trents]

Were there any other celiac antibody tests run besides the tTG-IGA? If not, I would certainly press for a more comprehensive celiac panel. You could be low in total IGA which would drive individual celiac antibody test scores down toward the negative range. If I were you, I'd go back to your physician and ask for these additional tests to be run:

1. Total IgA

2. DGP-IGA

3. DGP-IGG

[MimiTo5]

I will absolutely do that. Thank you for the recommendation, that was the first time seeing this new doctor, and I’m not exactly comfortable with her yet. Everything I had researched prior to finding this forum was indicating that I had Celiac disease. I’m going to ask for those labs to be run, and I’ll  feel better about it.

[trents]

The above linked article might be helpful in getting an overview of celiac antibody testing. Unfortunately, many physicians are pretty deficient in their knowledge about celiac disease and operate on incomplete or outdated information. It's understandable for GPs at least as they can't know about every health issue in depth. As long as you have a doc who is willing to listen to you and humble enough to take your own research seriously, that's the important thing.