Test Results Confusions

[canuckchick]

Hi there,

After my sister was diagnosed with celiac, I cut out gluten for 10 days as part of a cleanse and felt much better. So I went back to wheat for 5 days, and my doctor ordered blood tests. She would only test for ttG and IgA as she said the rest were outdated or something (which isn't what the general consensus on this forum seems to be).

My ttg results were low (only 2) but my total IgA results were also low (0.88, and the sheet said that normal range was 0.9 - 5.5 g/L). My ferratin was also low (10), though my hemoglobin is ok. Other things (B12, folate, thyroid) are fine.

So I understand that low IgA can lead to a false negative on ttg, but based on the fact that my IgA is basically only at the low end of normal, rather than non-existent, I'm not sure if that's really a factor.

Sooooo.... I don't know. I have been gluten-free for about a month now, and while I wouldn't say that all my symptoms have cleared up (wouldn't that have been nice, a simple all-in-one solution like that), I do feel better overall. Even better, it has been a powerful kick in the pants to get more conscious about what goes into my body, and it has led me to better nutrition than I have probably ever experienced.

I think my approach is just to stick with the gluten-free for a while longer, and then challenge to see how I feel.

Any other thoughts from people? Should I go back to gluten and then request the full panel? Is it possible that if I did have elevated ttg levels, those 10 days off wheat could have dropped them that low, and that 5 days back on wasn't enough to bring them back up? (seems unlikely to me)

Thanks

[Jestgar]

I would think that your approach of going completely gluten-free, then doing a challenge, is the best one. Tests give results that, when compared to the average population, are probably correct. A gluten challenge after a month or so gluten-free will test your body specifically. It's really the best way.

[Crimson]

My ttg results were low (only 2) but my total IgA results were also low (0.88, and the sheet said that normal range was 0.9 - 5.5 g/L). My ferratin was also low (10), though my hemoglobin is ok. Other things (B12, folate, thyroid) are fine.

So I understand that low IgA can lead to a false negative on ttg, but based on the fact that my IgA is basically only at the low end of normal, rather than non-existent, I'm not sure if that's really a factor.

Ello,

It looks to me as if you may be one of the IgA deficients. If the normal range is .9 and you're .88....I would do a bit of research on IgA defiencies. It would be quite important to know because if you are, and would ever need a blood transfusion or organ transplant, that would be taken into consideration because your body may react badly to blood that is NOT IgA deficient. You could also be one of the rare people that forms an antibody against IgA and in that case, you'd be attacking blood that's given to you.

I'd give you links but they're on the other computer.

I def. recomend doing your research though.

Cheers!

[nora-n]

You can upload all your links (favourites) onto google bookmarks. i have google toolbar installed both in IE and firefox and you put in the button for google bookmarks there. That way you have access to your bookmarks from different places.