Should I be screened for celiac disease?

[jeffpine]

Some Mod asked me about blood tests. Dr said no need, nowhere to go as I am gluten-free alreay.

He threw around terms like: TTG  2P DQH. not sure if it relates to gluten-free but he removed a polyp in 2022 and will recheck in 27. so my conclusion is that I am mostly gluten-free but not strict. Much obliged, Jeff

[Scott Adams]

The doctor was correct--if you are gluten-free the blood panel for celiac disease will not work, you would need to go on gluten challenge in order to be tested.

Here is more info about how to do a gluten challenge for a celiac disease blood panel, or for an endoscopy:

Quote

"...in order to properly diagnose celiac disease based on serology and duodenal histology, doctors need patients to be on gluten-containing diets, even if they are causing symptoms, and this is called a "gluten challenge."

• Eat gluten prior to celiac disease blood tests: The amount and length of time can vary, but is somewhere between 2 slices of wheat bread daily for 6-8 weeks and 1/2 slice of wheat bread or 1 wheat cracker for 12 weeks 12 weeks;
• Eat gluten prior to the endoscopic biopsy procedure: 2 slices of wheat bread daily for at least 2 weeks;

and this recent study recommends 4-6 slices of wheat bread per day:

 

This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.

 

 

[trents]

TTG would refer to a blood antibody test. Not valid if you are already eating gluten free or mostly so. DQH would refer to a genetic test to see if you possess either or both of the two genes that have been connected most strongly to developing active celiac disease. The genetic test is more of a rule out measure than a diagnostic test as about 40% of the general population have one or both of those genes but only about 1% of the general population develops active celiac disease. If you don't have the genes but gluten causes you issues then the conclusion is NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity) as opposed to celiac disease. So, the genetic testing helps with a differential diagnosis. I don't know about the 2P. 2 Pairs of genes?

Edited August 21 by trents