Enterolab Results

[jenhb]

I just recieved my Enterolab results today and I was surprised that it didn't show any ongoing gluten sensitivity as I have had a dramatic postive response to a gluten-free diet. Horrible gas and cycles of diarreha and constipation have disappeared. My insomnia and depression are much, much better and I have been struggling with those issues for over 20 years. I have only been on the diet for about a month, but the one time I ate some gluten all of those symptoms came crashing back and it took about a week to feel better. In the end, it doesn't really matter what the tests say as I am determined to continue with the diet no matter what, but I am interested in any feedback other members have to offer.

Here are the results:

Fecal Antigliadin IgA 9 (Normal Range <10 Units)

Fecal Antitissue Transglutaminase IgA 7 Units (Normal Range <10 Units)

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

Fecal anti-casein (cow's milk) IgA antibody 7 Units (Normal Range <10 Units)

HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 1 0602

HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 2 0603

Serologic equivalent: HLA-DQ 1,1 (Subtype 6,6)

I have had bloodwork done and it was negative. My regular doctor did a celiac panel but apparently it did not include IGA. So my GI doctor wanted me to go back on gluten for three weeks and get that test done. At this point I don't think it is worth it as I have finally found something that makes me feel better for the first time in a year (I have struggled with all of these issues for a long time, but everything got much worse after I had a severe intestinal virus a year agao) and I am pretty sure the test would just come out negative anyway.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Jen

[mftnchn]

My understanding is that your Enterolab results are all negative, and your gene type isn't the most common ones associated with celiac. There are some DQ1 folk here on this forum who have gluten sensitivity (and some diagnosed celiac) and get better on the diet. My impression is they tend to have more neurological symptoms than others do. So the depression fits here.

Your symptoms and dietary response are very similar to celiac. So regardless of the explanation you seem to be gluten sensitive for sure--and I think your plan is a sound one. Eventually probably there will be some research that will explain the reason.

[nora-n]

Hi, over at the braitalk and neurotalk forums there actuallay are some DQ1 and they are very sensitive to gluten.

And there are some diagnosed DQ1 out there too but not as may as DQ2 of course.

Ssome are here too.

Often those not having DQ2 or 8 will not show the typical severe villi damage, but they are just as bad from gluten, and even more sensitive to gluten.

3 weeks is probably not enough.

Note that Dr. Hadjivassiliou found that 20% og his gluten ataxia patients are DQ1. Just google his name and gluten or gliadin or something relevant. they have antigliadin antibodies and it goes right into the central nervous system.

nora

[holiday16]

When my mother had her testing done her results were very similar except she does have a celiac gene. I called Enterolab and when you have a borderline negative they recommend that you try the diet to be sure since it's borderline. My mother did the diet for over a year and noticed no difference, but she really wasn't having symptoms anyway. In her case it is recommended that she go low gluten so she doesn't trigger it in the future. How you feel on the diet is the best indication when the results are borderline like that.

[jenhb]

Thanks for the info.!

I've actually been gluten free for about five weeks now... (except for one setback). I am committed to a six month trial to see if the changes I have noticed so far stick. Everything is not magically perfect, I still have some gas most days and low energy in the afternoon. But, I would say, on average, I have been at least 50%-80% better (depending on the day) since around the end of the second week. The fact that the weekly D episodes that I was having, at times, resulted in me having a BM accident on myself, are not currently occuring is positive reinforcement enough to deal with the diet. I guess if I am this sensitive to gluten with a borderline Enterolab antibody result, I would hate to see myself with a positive antibody response. So, I guess I will see what happens...

Thanks!

Jen