Please Help!

[amberlink84]

These where my testing values.. The way it was worded in the test results has me concerned.. Please help..

Gliadin IgA

Value

<0.72

TISSUE TRANSGLUTAMINASE (TTG) AB IGG

Value

<0.82

Gliadin IgG

Value

3.03

[trents]

Welcome to the forum!

We cannot comment on your test scores unless you also include the reference ranges for negative vs. positive on each test used by the particular laboratory doing the analysis. Each lab concocts its own test and uses different parameters so the ranges the use for reference vary. There is no industry standard. Please repost and add this additional information. The time window for editing your original post is now closed.

Were these the only tests performed? It's a rather odd selection of tests in that the TTG-IGA and total IGA were not ordered. The ones you posted above are second level tests. Were there more that you did not post? Please post the result info exactly like it appears in the results given to you.

[amberlink84]

This is all it says/copied and pasted each test:

TISSUE TRANSGLUTAMINASE (TTG) AB IGG

View trends

Normal value: 0.00 - 4.99 FLU

Value

<0.82

INTERPRETIVE INFORMATION: Tissue Transglutaminase Ab, IgG

 

In individuals with low or deficient IgA, testing for tissue

transglutaminase (tTG) and deamidated Gliadin (DGP) antibodies of

the IgG isotype is performed. Positive tTG and/or DGP IgG antibody

results indicate celiac disease; however, small intestinal biopsy

is required to establish a diagnosis due to the lower accuracy of

these markers, especially in patients without IgA deficiency.

Performed By: ARUP Laboratories

500 Chipeta Way

Salt Lake City, UT 84108

 

Gliadin IgG

View trends

Normal value: 0.00 - 4.99 FLU

Value

3.03

INTERPRETIVE INFORMATION: Deamidated Gliadin Peptide

(DGP) Ab, IgG

 

In individuals with low or deficient IgA, testing for tissue

transglutaminase (tTG) and deamidated Gliadin (DGP) antibodies of

the IgG isotype is performed. Positive tTG and/or DGP IgG antibody

results indicate celiac disease; however, small intestinal biopsy

is required to establish a diagnosis due to the lower accuracy of

these markers, especially in patients without IgA deficiency.

Performed By: ARUP Laboratories

500 Chipeta Way

Salt Lake City, UT 84108

 

Gliadin IgA

View trends

Normal value: 0.00 - 4.99 FLU

Value

<0.72

Low IgA antibody levels suspected. Tissue transglutaminase, IgG

and deamidated gliadin peptide, IgG tests to follow.

INTERPRETIVE INFORMATION: Deamidated Gliadin Peptide (DGP) Ab, IgA

 

A positive deamidated gliadin (DGP) IgA antibody result is

associated with celiac disease but is not to be used as an initial

screening test due to its low specificity and only occasional

positivity in celiac disease patients who are negative for tissue

transglutaminase (tTG) IgA antibody.

Performed By: ARUP Laboratories

500 Chipeta Way

[trents]

Is this the first round of antibody testing you have had done? Have you already had any IGA antibody testing done? The reason I ask is from the statement found in your lab report from your second post: 

"Low IgA antibody levels suspected. Tissue transglutaminase, IgG

and deamidated gliadin peptide, IgG tests to follow."

But I see no IGA test scores in the information you have provided.

At any rate, your IGG antibody tests do not indicate celiac disease. They are all within normal range and therefore negative. What symptoms do you have? Have you considered that you might not have celiac disease but NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity) instead. There are no tests available for NCGS yet. Celiac disease and NCGS share many of the same symptoms but NCGS does not damage the villous lining of the small bowel and therefore not antibodies are produced. NCGS is 10x more common than celiac disease. Arriving at a diagnosis of NCGS involves first ruling out celiac disease which the test results you have supplied seem to have done.

If you have already had IGA antibody tests run and they were negative there is one more diagnostic procedure that can be done to look for celiac disease and that is an endoscopy with biopsy of the small bowel lining to microscopically look for damage. A small percentage of people who actually do have celiac disease are seronegative and don't throw antibodies.

Again, what are your symptoms? Why have you been pursuing a celiac diagnosis?

I am including an article attachment that explains celiac disease antibody testing: 

 

[amberlink84]

Gliadin IgA

View trends

Normal value: 0.00 - 4.99 FLU

Value >0.72

<A positive deamidated gliadin (DGP) IgA antibody result is associated with celiac disease but is not to be used as an initial screening. 

This is 1st screening in all testing.  This was IGA Antibody >0.72... 

I have bloating, Stomach pain, constant diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, in and out of hospitals, different test, different meds, different diagnosis. I'm tired.

@trents

[trents]

Yes, missed that. But still, no TTG-IGA? No total IGA? Who ordered these tests anyway? Doesn't seem like they know what they are doing. 

At a bare minimum, an initial celiac blood antibody testing panel should include a test for total IGA to check for IGA deficiency and the TTG-IGA test. The normal protocol is that if the TTG-IGA is negative but total IGA shows an IGA deficiency then other tests are ordered reflexively such as the DGP-IGA and the DGP-IGG.

I would ask for a total IGA test and a TTG-IGA test to be done or better, yet, an endoscopy with a biopsy of the small bowel lining. If you get no cooperation, trial a gluten free diet for a few months and see if your symptoms improve.

Speaking of trialing a gluten free diet, I should ask you, have you already been cutting back on gluten significantly for a significant period of time? If so, know that doing so would have invalidated the blood antibody testing. All testing for celiac disease, whether the blood antibody testing or the endoscopy/biopsy requires being on regular amounts of gluten for significant periods of time (weeks/months).

But something else just now occurred to me as I was looking at your avatar. Are you African American by any chance? If so, I remember reading somewhere that celiac serum antibody testing doesn't work well for those with African heritage. If I remember correctly, the article said it misses about 80% of those of African decent who actually do have celiac disease.

[amberlink84]

1 hour ago, trents said:

Yes, missed that. But still, no TTG-IGA? No total IGA? Who ordered these tests anyway? Doesn't seem like they know what they are doing. 

At a bare minimum, an initial celiac blood antibody testing panel should include a test for total IGA to check for IGA deficiency and the TTG-IGA test. The normal protocol is that if the TTG-IGA is negative but total IGA shows an IGA deficiency then other tests are ordered reflexively such as the DGP-IGA and the DGP-IGG.

I would ask for a total IGA test and a TTG-IGA test to be done or better, yet, an endoscopy with a biopsy of the small bowel lining. If you get no cooperation, trial a gluten free diet for a few months and see if your symptoms improve.

Speaking of trialing a gluten free diet, I should ask you, have you already been cutting back on gluten significantly for a significant period of time? If so, know that doing so would have invalidated the blood antibody testing. All testing for celiac disease, whether the blood antibody testing or the endoscopy/biopsy requires being on regular amounts of gluten for significant periods of time (weeks/months).

But something else just now occurred to me as I was looking at your avatar. Are you African American by any chance? If so, I remember reading somewhere that celiac serum antibody testing doesn't work well for those with African heritage. If I remember correctly, the article said it misses about 80% of those of African decent who actually do have celiac disease.

You haven't paid attention to any of the question, or response... All test are done, just not the biopsy. These are just the numbers on me- THE TEST

IGA, (TTG) AB IGG, & IGG

Gliadin IgA

Value

<0.72

TISSUE TRANSGLUTAMINASE (TTG) AB IGG

Value

<0.82

Gliadin IgG

Value

3.03

I've had scopes "upper and lower".

All test are from Texas. Nevermind, I'll just delete this. Again, not paying attention. Ignoring what I type out, like the doctor's Ignoring everything I go through daily. Thanks 🤷‍♀️

[RMJ]

Good for your doctor in ordering a complete celiac panel! Many just order TTG IgA. The four celiac tests are all normal, i.e. not indicating celiac disease (as long as you were eating gluten prior to the tests). I’m not sure why the lab said low total IgA was suspected, but even if the total IgA was low, the correct tests were done to account for that.

I hope your doctor can figure out why you’re having gastrointestinal issues.

[trents]

I certainly was paying attention to everything you posted but apparently the formatting and the terminology deployed is unusual and not what we are used to seeing on this forum. It was very confusing to me and I'm sorry for the confusion it all caused in our interaction. But, if you go back and read my several posts you will see that I agree with RMJ that your test results do not indicate celiac disease. And it is unfortunate that no one did a biopsy while doing an upper GI since some celiacs are seronegative. 

[Wheatwacked]

Welcome to the forum.

On 7/27/2024 at 11:44 AM, amberlink84 said:

The way it was worded in the test results has me concerned.

What is your concern?

Your tests indicate no Celiac, they don't find anything in the endoscopy or colonoscopy so they say there is nothing wrong with you?  Maybe they think it is all in your head? Welcome to the club.  

On 7/27/2024 at 3:08 PM, amberlink84 said:

I have bloating, Stomach pain, constant diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, in and out of hospitals, different test, different meds, different diagnosis. I'm tired.

"Researchers have also linked IgA deficiency to autoimmune health problems. These are health problems that cause your body’s immune system to attack your body by mistake."   Immunoglobulin A Deficiency

As  I understand it, according to the tests, you may have an autoimmune disease (low IgA),  but the testing does not prove Celiac Disease.

So many on the forum have gone through similar periods.  Some 10 years or more.

As nothing they do helps, take your health into your own hands.  Wheat has an omega 6:3 ratio of 22:1.  HIGHLY INFLAMMATORY.  Many get relief from just stopping wheat, barley and rye, whether it is Celiac Disease, Chrohns, Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivety.

Whatever is causing it, by now you are also suffering from malnutrition of multiple vitamins and minerals.  Not because you don't "eat heathy", but because you don't absorb what you eat.  Give yourself a defacto diagnosis of at least Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, as Trents suggested as a possibility, and go gluten free.  Preferably no procesed foods for a while.  There is no pill or treatment except for avoiding foods that hurt and to take extra vitamins.  You can get better.

Ubiquitous with all Autoimmune Disease is Vitamin D deficiency.  Do you have test results for vitamin D?

Thiamine Deficiency is common in those with digestive issues.  Possibly causing Gastrointestinal Beriberi.  But beriberi is the symptom, not the cause.  There is a test, whole blood or erythrocyte transketolase activity,  but a trial of high dose Thiamine (vitamin B1) or Benfothiamine will reverse some of those symptoms in days.  Faster than you can get a doctor to schedule the test.

Is your goal to get unsick, or to prove to doctors that you are sick?

Quote

We suggest that a suspicion for gastrointestinal beriberi should arise if gastrointestinal symptoms (anorexia, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain) are refractory to the usual therapies.   Gastrointestinal beriberi

The third common cause of GI distress, mostly disregarded by doctors is Choline.  Following "healthy eating" by avoiding eggs, meat, and milk causes gall bladder type issues. Poor digestion of fats. Gut Pain, stinky poop brain fog are common symptoms.  Even Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver.     Choline is essential for healthy liver function, and research links choline deficiency to fatty liver disease.

So, if you want a suggestion, these helped me:

1. Gluten Free Diet
2. 10,000 IU a day of vitamin D.
3. 250 mg of Thiamine or Benfothiamine or more a day. There is no upper limit.
4. 500 mg of Choline or 1800 mg of Phostidyl Choline or more.  Safe Upper Limit is 3500 mg of Choline.

These are not some medications, they are essential nutrients you should be getting in your daily diet from foods you eat.  

As the doctors found no damage to your small intestine, improvement will come quickly, and you can start to investigate other deficiencies, like Iodine, B2, B3, B5, B12, zinc, potassium, magnesium for starters.