Positive Iga, Negative Ttg

[mikeleanor]

My husband's blood work was done by Quest; his Gliadin antibodies IgA was 27, with normal being 11; IgG, Reticulin, and TTG were negative. Two questions: 1) is the IgA test he had, the same as the EMA-IgA, or is that a separate test? and 2) Is it probable he has celiac with these results?

We saw the gastroenterologist, who said he had less than a 1% chance of having celiac, because if he were, the TTG would be positive as it's the only one they look at these days. He said he'd do the biopsy if we want, but he really doubted the results would be positive.

[Guest nini]

the blood tests are notorious for false negatives, and besides, it doesn't look like he had the complete celiac panel run anyway. A negative or inconclusive blood test or even biopsy result can never ever rule out Celiac. If he has symptoms that made the Dr.s question Celiac, and the Dr.s don't want to do more testing there is no reason to not TRY the diet and see if his symptoms improve. Positive dietary response is a much more valid diagnostic tool than the current tests available (except for Enterolab, that seems to be pretty sensitive).

[Shalia]

My completely non-scientific guess?

I think you caught him early.

I think you caught him when he's reacting to gluten, but his intestines haven't turned to mush yet.

That's something to be grateful for, I guess... although ignorant GI's seem to think otherwise! I'd still try the diet if I were you, but know he'll have no support medically on it unless all his symptoms disappear. (That's how some on here, myself included, are diagnosed. We get better on our diets and the doctors finally say "mea culpa".)

Hope everything works out for the best for your husband!

[mikeleanor]

My completely non-scientific guess?

I think you caught him early.

I think you caught him when he's reacting to gluten, but his intestines haven't turned to mush yet.

That's something to be grateful for, I guess... although ignorant GI's seem to think otherwise! I'd still try the diet if I were you, but know he'll have no support medically on it unless all his symptoms disappear. (That's how some on here, myself included, are diagnosed. We get better on our diets and the doctors finally say "mea culpa".)

Hope everything works out for the best for your husband!

Dear Shalia and Nini, Thank you for your supportive responses. Our theory is that, if he has celiac, it's been active for about 18 years, causing ever-increasing bloating beginning in the colon, which he ultimately had removed, and now his small intestine is significantly dilated. All this started after his heart attack. I wonder if others have had either megacolon or small intestine pseudo-obstruction that seem to be caused by celiac.

[Matilda]

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