Blood Test And No Endoscopy?

[hilwacat]

My doctor diagnosed me with Celiac based on positive Endomysial AB and Transglutaminase IGA tests. She told me that the results were virtually 100% accurate and that I do not need further testing, but when I look online it seems like a lot of websites advise endoscopy for diagnosis.

Did anyone else only have blood work and not an endoscopy? I guess I am hoping that it is all a big mistake...

[Rachel--24]

With both of those tests being positive there is really no reason to go through with a biopsy. The positive EMA and tTG is enough for an official diagnosis.

The biopsy can be false negative because damage can be "patchy".....if samples are taken from an unaffected area you can have a false negative. A negative biopsy does not rule out Celiac Disease.

Since you've got the positive bloodwork a biopsy is not necessary.

[S-J-L]

I had both positive blood work and biopsies. I have heard the biopsies can be negative because its a patchy disease also. The main reason they do the biopsies is that not too many people want to go gluten free unless they absolutely have to. It changes your whole life style.

[disneyfan]

My doctor diagnosed me with Celiac based on positive Endomysial AB and Transglutaminase IGA tests. She told me that the results were virtually 100% accurate and that I do not need further testing, but when I look online it seems like a lot of websites advise endoscopy for diagnosis.

Did anyone else only have blood work and not an endoscopy? I guess I am hoping that it is all a big mistake...

I'm so glad you said this because I feel much better now! My endo did the TTG test first since he said that was the screening test. That was positive so he ordered the EMA which came back positive also. I did make an appointment with a Gastro Dr and was disgusted. He did not believe that I had any gluten problems and said I had convinced myself that those foods were bad for me.

I decided that I felt horrible enough to go gluten free without his diagnosis and it was the best decision I made. My blood work now shows I am absorbing my calcium, Vit D, anemia is gone, and my thyroid meds have been lowered as well.

I felt much better within a week of going gluten free. I probably should have pursued an endoscope to be sure but so many reports say if they don't get the right spot in the biopsy, you will get a negative biopsy. I chose not to do this and follow the diet.

It's been a little over a year and you couldn't pay me to eat a piece of bread or cracker!

[Leslie-FL]

I'm so glad you said this because I feel much better now! My endo did the TTG test first since he said that was the screening test. That was positive so he ordered the EMA which came back positive also. I did make an appointment with a Gastro Dr and was disgusted. He did not believe that I had any gluten problems and said I had convinced myself that those foods were bad for me.

What a horrible doctor!! Especially with the positive bloodwork having brought you there. It's good that you went forward and tried eating gluten free for your own peace of mind. You're feeling better already and showing documented improvement in your health. Good for you, for doing what is right for you!

Can these blood tests be done with an accurate result after a person is gluten free for a year? I'd like to check into it with my doctor, just because an official diagnosis might be a good thing if, for instance, I were ever hospitalized and needed it noted in my records for the meals to be gluten free, but I don't want a diagnosis badly enough to start eating gluten again.

[bakinghomesteader]

I had positive blood work and with the positive diet response and the positive ttg from enterolab, my doctor gave me the diagnosis without endo. I said, with positive blood work, I really don't want to have to go through an endo. We agreed that the end results would be a gluten free diet anyway. So no endo.

[hilwacat]

That makes sense, but I wonder if positive blood tests can mean only gluten sensitivity, not Celiac disease. One is so much more serious than the other.

Does anyone know if these positive blood tests can mean just gluten sensitivity w/o Celiac disease?

[aikiducky]

If you have a positive TTg and EmA, you are making antibodies against your own tissue. That to me spells celiac.

If you want to know whether or not there is damage to your intestine, you should do the endoscopy. No one can stop you from going gluten free after that whether or not it's positive, but then you'd know. I'm not necessarily saying that everybody always should have biopsies done. Just a point to consider I think.

Leslie-FL, no, blood work after a year gluten free would not be reliable at all. Some people do still show antibodies after a year but the chance is not very high I think.

Pauliina

[Rachel--24]

That makes sense, but I wonder if positive blood tests can mean only gluten sensitivity, not Celiac disease.

No, the positive antibodies indicate an autoimmune condition....not a sensitivity.