Test Results Back--what Would You Do?

[Lindsay GFMom]

Our 4yo had these results from Enterolab:

Fecal Antigliadin IgA 29 (Normal Range <10 Units)

Fecal Antitissue Transglutaminase IgA 21 Units (Normal Range <10 Units)

Quantitative Microscopic Fecal Fat Score <300 Units (Normal Range <300 Units)

Fecal anti-casein (cow

[celiacgirls]

I was in your situation. My oldest daughter was asymptomatic except for behaviour problems. She was growing but started off at 99+ on the chart and height was down to around 75. Not enough for the doctor to be concerned but I noticed and really thought it was due to her very poor eating habits not a problem with gluten.

She was positive for gluten and casein and tTg from Enterolab. We tried the diet with her and her behaviour problems have disappeared unless she gets gluten or casein. There have been enough mistakes along the way that I am convinced she really does have a problem with them.

I think if you try the diet, you might be surprised at what happens. If you don't see any difference after a year, you could re-introduce gluten and casein and see what happens.

Based on our results, I do believe Enterolab but since they are not accepted by most doctors, and since we are not officially diagnosed with celiac, I think I would do a diet challenge if I wasn't noticing any improvements.

My other daughter did have stomach issues from gluten and even though I suspected gluten was the problem, her blood tests were always negative. When I did the Enterolab test on her, it was positive. So a negative blood test does not rule out a problem with gluten.

[jayhawkmom]

My little girl went from the 95th percentile down to below the 1st - she literally "fell off" the growth charts. I'm still amazed that no one bothered to suggest we have her tested sooner than they did. It wasn't until months of debilitating stomach pain that we were finally sent for testing.

Of course, my disclaimer is that I was clueless about Celiac until that time.

Currently, at 5.5 - she's IN the 1st percentile, and back on the charts. She's catching up slowly but surely.

I'm honestly not sure what I would do in your situation. I was way more than willing to try anything to help my daughter. But again... she was not asymptomatic, she was in pain from sun up till sun down.

I don't really have much of an opinion about Enterolab testing, but if it's at all accurate, it seems that your kiddo IS reacting to gluten. Not celiac, perhaps just an intolerance, and it may be well worth trying the diet.

[Ursa Major]

The problem with the blood tests is, that first of all they are extremely unreliable in children under five and yield many false positives (and aren't all that reliable with older kids and adults, either). And unless the villi are practically destroyed, the blood tests won't show anything anyway.

So, you may have caught it BEFORE there is extensive damage to your son's intestines. That is a good thing. Hence no malabsorption YET.

He has the celiac disease gene. Poor growth, behaviour problems and tummy aches are all very common celiac disease symptoms. There is a good likelihood that it is celiac disease after all.

So, putting him on the gluten-free/casein free diet should be your first priority. You may be surprised how many symptoms he had, and that he isn't asymptomatic at all. You were just not aware of which symptoms the gluten and casein were causing.

I hope your son will do well on the diet.