Wheat Allergy In Addition To gluten-free?

[alamaz]

Recently I've read several posts where people are tested for a wheat allergy in addition to already being celiac/gluten-free. I'm confused- if you are already a celiac/gluten-free wouldn't you automatically be allergic to wheat?

[Babygirl6915]

No. I am wheat allergy positive but not celiac positve. They have basically the same symptoms but nothing else is the same. Someone who has been on this board longer can probably be more specific but that is the general idea.

[gf4life]

An allergy is a immunoglobin E response in the body and the gluten intolerance/celiac is an immunoglobin A response.

Sometimes the symptoms can be similar, but more often than not the allergy is more of a inflammation/breathing problems/skin reaction and the intolerance is more of a digestive reaction. It is possible to have digestive issues with a food allergy though, and we all know that Celiac cna give you a whole range of symptoms, so they can't always tell the difference without the testing.

They test for them differently using different blood tests and with Celiac you also need the intestinal scope/biopsy.

With a wheat allergy you need to avoid wheat. With Celiac/gluten intoelrance you need to avoid all offending gluten grains.

It is possible to have one or the other, or both at the same time.

[tarnalberry]

as gf4life explained, a wheat allergy and celiac disease are not the same thing. the treatment for the later encompasses the treatment for the former, but the underlying mechanism of the two conditions is different.

the wheat allergy is mediated by the IgE response mechanism of the immune system, which causes inflammation and histamine release, amongst other physiologic responses. in severe cases, a wheat allergy can cause anaphylactic shock upon exposure - basically such a profound and immediate manifestation of symptoms, that life is immediate risk.

celiac disease is an autoimmune response mediated by the IgA and IgG portion of the immune system, and creates a cascade reaction which directly attacks the intestines. in severe cases, celiac disease can cause total destruction of the villi in the intestines and provide a mechanism for other markers to get into the general blood supply from the intestines which are not supposed to do this. it most certainly can be life-threatening, but not over the course of a handful of hours in an otherwise healthy person.

the treatment is nearly the same, but the mechanics are very different.

[alamaz]

Interesting thanks. I guess I just assumed if you are a celiac you are automatically allergic to wheat even though gluten is the protein that you are actually allergic too.

[elonwy]

Celiac isn't an allergy. I have a topical allergic response to wheat, which means if I touch it, then I get a rash and hives. This is an allergic reaction, and is completely secondary to my Celiac Disease. It is not a reaction to gluten, it is a reaction to something else in wheat. I could rub rye or barley on my skin all day, and not get a reaction (not that I want to, but I did touch barley just to check).

So it is very possible to be a celiac and also have a wheat allergy. It just makes you extra, extra careful.