Total Serum Iga And Iga Deficiency......

[wolfie]

Long story short.....my nutritionist suggested I get tested for Celiac and rule it out (I had been diagnosed with IBS and was trying to recover from an eating disorder). My PCP ordered the tests (I had no idea what the tests involved at this point in time ~ Dec 2005). The results came out IgG was positive at 55 (should be under 20). Anti-gliadin IgA was 5 (normal) and TtG was 2 (normal). PCP advised gluten-free diet and said I could see a GI specialist if I wanted. I went gluten-free and did end up seeing a GI after that. GI wanted to do endoscopy, but I had such a positive dietary response, she was okay with my just continuing the gluten-free diet unless I stopped feeling well or new symptoms arose. Fast forward to June....I finally convinced my kids Ped to test my son (10) and his TtG came back highly positive at 222 (supposed to be under 100). He is awaiting a GI appt on 8/15, still on gluten..LOL. So now I wonder......Is it possible the reason my tests came back the way they did is because I have an IgA deficiency? Can they test that now that I am off gluten? Not that it matters, but it may explain why the tests "looked" normal. Another factor....I had been on South Beach (lower carbs) for almost a year before I was tested, so that could have effected the test, too. One of the reasons I am curious, too, I want my dr to re-test either at 6 months or 1 yr gluten-free to make sure that all the tests are normal and wanted to know that if I do have that deficiency, whether or not the gluten-free diet will make a difference or whether that number will still how a deficiency if there is one. Sorry if that is confusing......I tried to make it as clear as possible.

Thanks for all thoughts.

[chrissy]

i'm a little confused as to what you are asking. are you wondering about your anti-gliadin and TTg levels being in the normal range? what IgG levels came back high?(endomysial, TTg, etc.?) my son is IgA deficient also. on his original TTg test he came back with a .1-----the rest of us (normal IgA) came back with values such as: .6, .7, etc.----except the kids with celiac, of course---they were higher. we did testing through promethius on him, which showed he as the DQ2 gene, but showed no active disease. he also says the test is inconclusive (i'm a tad confused here?) he told us that ian needs to be tested yearly. i'm sure none of this helped.......but this is our experience with IgA deficiency.

[TCA]

We did gene testing through proemehteus, but the other tests were through a local lab and IgA deficiency wasn't tested. Prometheus sent us a nice little packet by calling 1-888-423-5227 if you want one. I have the same question you have (I understood, believe it or not, ). Does a gluten-free diet improve IgA deficiency?

[wolfie]

The IgG was Anti-gliadin...sorry!!

Yes, does a gluten-free diet improve the IgA deficiency or would that remain.

[chrissy]

i don't think a gluten free diet will change the total IgA serum levels. our ped gi tested the total IgA serum levels when he did the first TTg levels on our family, i assume so that he would know what tests to run in the future.

if i understand things right, TTg shows how much damage there is, and anti-gliadin levels can be raised in other conditions besides celiac. ( i think crohns might raise it)

how are you doing in your recovery from your eating disorder----i'm really hoping you're going to tell me something positive!!!

[loraleena]

Not that this is what you are asking, but I am amazed at how many of us have or have had eating disorders. I wouldn't be surprised if this was a triggering factor for me.

[wolfie]

i don't think a gluten free diet will change the total IgA serum levels. our ped gi tested the total IgA serum levels when he did the first TTg levels on our family, i assume so that he would know what tests to run in the future.

if i understand things right, TTg shows how much damage there is, and anti-gliadin levels can be raised in other conditions besides celiac. ( i think crohns might raise it)

how are you doing in your recovery from your eating disorder----i'm really hoping you're going to tell me something positive!!!

I am doing very well in my recovery, thanks for asking. I am 33 now, but started with anorexia at 15 (got down to 95 lbs at 5'7" tall). I was recovered the first time by 17, but never had counseling and was never told that I could relapse. Last year at 32 and 2 kids later, I found myself back in my old habits.....obsessing about my weight (more specifically the # involved....OCD) and restricting foods (calories/carbs). I wasn't even overweight at the time (5'7" and 128 lbs), just had a lot of anxiety and OCD issues. I told my dr at my yearly (down to 118) in Oct and she put me on Lexapro and referred me to a counselor and nutritionist (the one who caught my Celiac/gluten intolerance). I was honestly trying to get better at that point, but so many foods bothered me that I think subconciously I wasn't eating anymore b/c it hurt. Now, almost 6 months into the gluten-free diet I am up 10 pounds and feel better than I have in years. I am hoping to get off the Lexapro in the next 6 months, as I hope the anxiety is much improved since removing gluten from my diet.

Sorry that got so long!!!