Positive Blood Tests/negative Biopsy

[Calle]

My dad was tested for Celiac first with the blood panel, which came back positive. His ttG was positive and a high number. Then he went and had the biopsy. They took 7 biopsies and they said it was negative. Does this mean he doesn't have Celiac? I just don't understand these tests. How can you be positive on one thing and negative on the other.

Thanks!

Calle

[Ursa Major]

Well, maybe his villi weren't destroyed to the point of having a positive biopsy yet. Or maybe, even with 7 biopsies, they still missed the damage (which isn't unheard of by far). Or maybe his damage is mostly in other parts of the body, not his gut.

I say, in your dad's case, going gluten-free is the next step to help find out if it makes him feel better. If it does, then I say the biopsy was a false negative, which is quite common.

Also, it would be a good idea to eliminate dairy and soy while doing the diet trial, as those two foods can hinder healing.

[ravenwoodglass]

I agree totally with Ursa. He needs to try the diet strictly for at least a couple of months. It is not unusual for the damage to either be in areas not accessable to the scope, or he could be 'lucky' and not have enough damage yet for the biopsies to be totally conclusive. You may also find it beneficial to get a copy of your biopsy report. This should actually be done with all records. There are times when a doctor will call an 'inconclusive' report a negative. This happened in my family. After questioning the doctor about it we were told that her changes were not definately celiac ....yet. We were given the choice of continuing to consume gluten until the damage was severe enough to be called celiac or going gluten free. We choose gluten free and saw her ulcers and other problems disappear.

[Calle]

Thanks for the info! I'm going to pass it onto my dad. I have been telling him just go on the diet and see how you feel, but he's stubborn and always wants to believe what the doctors tell him. At least where I live, I think the doctor's are way behind on Celiac and gluten sensitivities.

I went through the Enterolabs because I was frustrated after 25 years of no answers except for the repeated diagnosis of IBS. I was not going to do ONE more invasive test, which when they did them never even tested me for Celiac. Ever since I went on a gluten free and dairy free diet I have improved and I'm feeling better than I ever have.