Is tTG 9 normal after 4 months gluten-free?

[lizzie42]

My daughter has been gluten-free about 4 months. Prior, her tTG was over 100 (test maxed at 100). Her liver, iron, vit d are all normal again and she has grown 2 inches and gained 4.5 pounds in just 4 months! It's amazing. But her tTG is still at 9. Is that normal or should it be zero? Is she still getting gluten? We are SO strict. We don't eat out. 

She was previously having tummy pain still. I cut oats completely 3 weeks ago and that is gone. 

Can gluten-free oats raise tTG? Would I know based on symptoms? I was going to try her on oats again now that she doesn't say her tummy hurts anymore. 

Also, our house is gluten free apart from one loaf of bread my husband uses. He makes sandwiches on a plate then puts it in the dishwasher. Yesterday when my celiac kids weren't home, my youngest and I ate "real" pasta. I was SO careful. All pans went in the dishwasher, I didn't spill any, I cleaned the sink I drained it in. Today my girl has her dermatitis herpetiformis rash back and had a huge hour long meltdown then fell asleep. Just like before diagnosis. Is it that hard to avoid cross contamination? Will one crumb off the plate or me cooking pasta when she's not home get her? 

Again, we do not eat out, she's not in school yet, and she doesn't eat anything I don't give her. 

[RMJ]

The test result will never be shown as zero because the most negative the result can be reported as is less than the lowest amount the test can detect.  For example, you might see <2.

What is the normal range for your daughter’s test?  Antibodies can hang around in the body for a while. Even if her result is not yet in the normal range, going from more than 100 to 9 in a few months is great! Good job, mom.

[lizzie42]

It says normal is less than 5. 

[Scott Adams]

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 - if she eats out in restaurants this could be the culprit for cross-contamination issues:

 

 

[knitty kitty]

@lizzie42,

I have dermatitis herpetiformis outbreaks when I am exposed to foods high in iodine.  Iodine can cause dermatitis herpetiformis to flair up badly.  So I avoid high iodine foods like dairy products, crustaceans (shrimp, crab, lobster, shellfish), Eggs, and iodized table salt.  Spinach,  potatoes, kale, and kelp are high in iodine, too.

The antibodies that cause dermatitis herpetiformis are tTg 3 IgA.  The tests for Celiac Disease measure tTg 2 IgA antibodies.  The dermatitis herpetiformis tTg3 antibodies can hang around for two years or more and become more active when exposed to iodine without having gluten present.  Dermatitis Herpetiformis is pressure sensitive and are apt to form under tight clothing like belts, bras and underwear, seams on tight clothing, etc.  

I find tallow balm (Vintage Traditions is my favorite gluten free brand) eases the itching and helps heal the blisters without scaring. 

Niacin Vitamin B 3 helps the body rid itself of the dermatitis herpetiformis antibodies.  Niacin is one of eight essential B vitamins which should all be supplemented together because they all work together in concert.  Niacin is instrumental in the body's production of Serotonin, the feel good neurotransmitter.  The body turns Niacin into Tryptophan, which is used to make Serotonin.  So when I have dermatitis herpetiformis flairs, I also take Tryptophan at bedtime, and Niacin and a B Complex during the day.  

Hope this helps!  I know how miserable dermatitis herpetiformis can be.  

Edited July 7, 2025 by knitty kitty
Typo correction