Reading Blood Test Results

[willabec]

2 weeks ago, my 9 year old son was having "stomach Pain"- he initially told me that it was right under his breast bone and was not eating just at dinner time. after 1 week of this took him to the dr. (he has a history of asthma) and she put him on prevacid b/c she thought it might be acid reflux. after 3 days on the acid reflux medicine, he was alot better, eating more but not his usual amount. while at the drs. office though i had her do some blood testing, just to make sure. i have celiac and figured while we were there to have the blood test done on him. i have an appt. with a pediatric gi next month, but i am trying to get some answers as to what these test results mean.....things i have read on the internet are making me confused. some things i have read say that the tTG test results are the most specific tests for celiac- so i am just racking my brain and getting frustrated! his results are as follows:

tTg Ab IgA - <3 (less than 5 is negative)

IgA serum (not sure what this is) is 102 (range being 41-368)

Gliadin Ab (IgA) 19 (>17 is positive)

am i to assume that he is likely to have celiac? can the higher gliadin level be something else?? why 1 positive and 2 negatives? any information you can provide will be wonderful.

[happygirl]

The total IgA test isn't a Celiac test (does not diagnose Celiac) but is run in conjunction with the Celiac tests to determine their accuracy. If he was IgA deficient, the tTG IgA and Gliadin AB could give false negatives. However, based on the lab result, he is not IgA deficient (which is good for testing).

The tTG is one of the most sensitive/specific tests for Celiac; however, not one test is perfect, which is why the panel is often run, and why biopsies are often performed. A negative tTG can still mean you have Celiac. The AGA AB indicates he body is producing anti gliadin antibodies, which are often associated with Celiac.

Some people test negative for Celiac, but try the diet, and find that their symptoms improve. At that point, its hard to say if it is Celiac, or if it is a non-Celiac gluten sensitivity.

Either way, do not try the gluten free diet until after you have met with your ped gi and all testing is completed.

[willabec]

The total IgA test isn't a Celiac test (does not diagnose Celiac) but is run in conjunction with the Celiac tests to determine their accuracy. If he was IgA deficient, the tTG IgA and Gliadin AB could give false negatives. However, based on the lab result, he is not IgA deficient (which is good for testing).

The tTG is one of the most sensitive/specific tests for Celiac; however, not one test is perfect, which is why the panel is often run, and why biopsies are often performed. A negative tTG can still mean you have Celiac. The AGA AB indicates he body is producing anti gliadin antibodies, which are often associated with Celiac.

Some people test negative for Celiac, but try the diet, and find that their symptoms improve. At that point, its hard to say if it is Celiac, or if it is a non-Celiac gluten sensitivity.

Either way, do not try the gluten free diet until after you have met with your ped gi and all testing is completed.

thanks for the info....that is pretty much what i have come across- however he really has no symptoms other than 1 week of saying his stomach felt "heavy". it has now gone....he is gaining weight, growing, etc. i know i can't make a diagnoses via the internet, but the whole thing does not make sense- seeing that i did have some stomach issues (sometimes still do). it's just frustrating and not knowing makes me nuts....

[Mica]

thanks for the info....that is pretty much what i have come across- however he really has no symptoms other than 1 week of saying his stomach felt "heavy". it has now gone....he is gaining weight, growing, etc. i know i can't make a diagnoses via the internet, but the whole thing does not make sense- seeing that i did have some stomach issues (sometimes still do). it's just frustrating and not knowing makes me nuts....

I am kind of in a similar situation with my 6 year old son. He complains of occasional tummy aches (maybe once a week), is usually constipated and complains of leg pains at night (sometimes). I had all those same symptoms when I was his age so I did not think too much about them. Then I researched gluten intolerance and celiac disease and decided to get both of us tested through Enterolab. I tested positive for IGA gliadin antibodies and so did my son, but my son also tested positive for TTG antibodies as well. I had blood tests done on him and they show negative. But all they ran was TTG and total IGA, not EMA or IGA gliadin antibodies.

I also did the gene test through Enterolab and found that I have one of the main genes that predisposes you to celiac disease along with a gene that is associated with gluten sensitivity. Since you have celiac disease, there is a strong chance your son with either have it too or have some sort of gluten sensitivity issue. But, bottom line is that they are both treated the same with a gluten free diet.

Good luck with the pedicatric GI!

Mica