Dietary Challenge

[bonnieo]

My 8-year-old son had to have blood drawn 3 times to get a full celiac panel. He has had these results:

IgG anti-gliadin antibody - strong positive

IgA anti-gliadin antibody - weak positive

Anti-endomysial - negative

tissue transglutaminase - negative

Total IgA - normal

Other abnormal tests:

IgE egg whites - positive

IgG casein - strong positive

creatinine - low

white blood cell count - low

We've seen the pediatrician, gastroenterologist, and allergist. All have given different advice (some conflicting).

Because symptoms have not resolved, the pediatrician recommends eliminating wheat to see if symptoms resolve. If symptoms resolve, we'll put wheat back into his diet and do the small intestine biopsy.

Please provide any opinions about his blood test results.

Wouldn't it make more sense to do the biopsy before we just try eliminating wheat?

Thanks in advance.

JO

[gf4life]

You should ask for the biopsy first. Even one positive blood test is enough to warrant a biopsy and going gluten free first could alter the final results. There is no reason NOT to do the biopsy first, and regardless of the biopsy results, you should try the gluten free/dairy free diet as soon as the biopsy is finished. Then you will have a clear picture of the intestines before the diet and will be able to see how he responds to the diet while waiting for the biopsy results.

God bless,

Mariann