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Question About Iga

Sharon C.

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Sharon C. Explorer
Sharon C.
Posted

Hi-

My son was diagnosed last Septmeber with Celiac Disease. Since I also have issues with food, I am trying to determine whether I may also have a gluten intolerance.

I discussed it with my doctor who seemed to not have a lot of knowledge about the subject. I asked for the gluten IgA antibody test. The nurses in the office never had to write up that blood test before and they called the lab directly and asked what test it was and filled out a slip for me to take to them.

I had the test done and am waiting for results. My problem is, I have very little confidence that anyone knows what they are doing. I wonder if they did the right test, and I wonder if my doctor will understand the results. I called up and wanted the nurse to give me the antibody level over the phone, but she said she can't. The doctor would let me know if anything was "wrong" when he calls later.

Is there an exact name for the blood test I need? And can anyone tell me the proper number that I, an an adult female, should be over or under to consider myself either tolerant or intolerant? Thanks. I think it shouldn't be over 30, but I'm not sure. If it shows that I am intolerant, I am just going to go gluten free regardless. So I don't know if I need to go ahead with an endoscopy. I won't be eating it anymore anyway.

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celiac3270 Collaborator
celiac3270
Posted

If it's the EMA IgA, it will only read positive or negative (with no numbers). They probably ran the Antigliadin IgA. For that test, normal levels are less than 18. For the tTG IgA, normal levels are less than 13, but I suspect it'll be the antigliadin :)

Now, one positive test isn't enough to diagnose you completely or completely dismiss celiac. It's helpful also to do the Antigliadin IgG.

This table explains whether you should suspect celiac disease or not, based on which tests are positive or negative.

EMA IgA/AGA IgA/AGA IgG/Interpretation

+ + + celiac disease 99% Probable

+ - + celiac disease probable

+ + - celiac disease probable

+ - - celiac disease probable

- + + celiac disease less likely

- - + celiac disease less likely

- + - celiac disease less likely

- - - celiac disease very unlikely

Sharon C. Explorer
Sharon C.
Posted
  • Author

Hi-

Well, I have my results, only, they are not plus's or minus's like the chart above.

My IGA is 6, my IGG is 15. What does that sound like?

My doctor will not likely run any further tests because in his opinion, these blood tests are negative. If I do the entero lab, do I need to eat large amounts of gluten first, or can I take it anytime? Thanks.

KaitiUSA Enthusiast
KaitiUSA
Posted

The results don't come in plus and minus' like above. He was using that to interpret the resulsts. The + means a positive and the - means negative and then they are color coded with IgA, IgG, etc. To me the levels don't seem high.. I think they are in the normal range but I am not sure about that one. Did they test you for tTG? There are certain tests that are more specific for celiac then others.

celiac3270 Collaborator
celiac3270
Posted

Both are within normal range. Did he do an EMA IgA or just the antigliadin. If the EMA came back positive (it only comes back pos. or neg.), then celiac disease is probable. Otherwise, it is very unlikely that you have celiac.

The + and - symbols said that if you have a positive result in this and a positive result in that, then...it's very likely, unlikely, etc. For actual normal ranges, the Antigliadin IgA is less than 18 (you're 6) and for the Antigliadin IgG, it's less than 24 (you're 15). You tested negative in both. So, if you look at the color-coded thing I had in an above post, you'd see that a positive EMA IgA would mean that you're probably celiac...if the EMA was negative, it's extremely unlikely that you have celiac disease.

Oh, Kaiti was right. They do come in numbers, not as positive or negative. The only test that comes back as + or - is the EMA IgA

KaitiUSA Enthusiast
KaitiUSA
Posted

Yeah the one says positive or negative right on the results but the others come in numbers. celiac3270 is right it is very unlikely if EMA came back negative along with your other ones then you probably do not have it. One thing about just the IgA anti-gliadan is that many celiacs can be IgA deficient so you should get the EMA done and other tests done specifically for celiac :D

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