Anti-gliadin Antibody

[Guest Addicted2Gluten]

A few years ago when my doctors were starting to suspect that I had celiac disease, they checked my Anti-gliadin antibody (Iga) and it was 99. After that I was on a gluten free diet for a few months, before having a colonscopy and endoscopy. Since then I have been through 2 gluten challenges (one for 2 months, the other for 3 months) and the biopsies have shown some mild damage but nothing that would be diagnostic for celiac disease.

However, when I was on the gluten free diet, my antibodies decreased and were within normal range. Now, after having had the blood test repeated while eating gluten for the past 3 months it is a "very high positive" (I'm not sure of the number). This would mean that my body is having some sort of reaction to eating gluten, right? So, would this be enough to go on that I have celiac disease? A lot of my doctors don't believe that this test is specific enough...

In anycase, I've already started the gluten free diet again and I don't plan on going back on gluten...but I was just interested for your input.

thanks.

[celiac3270]

A normal range for the Anti-gliadin IgA is less than 18...so 99 is a VERY strong positive. If you tested negative in the other tests, though, such as the EMA and the Anti-gliadiin IgG, you'd be "less likely" to have celiac disease. With other positive tests, your results would put you in the "more likely" or "99% likely" categories.

So more testing would be good--unless you've noticed that you feel better off gluten in which case you don't really need any medical diagnosis at all.

[KaitiUSA]

Are those the only celiac tests you were tested for? 99 is a very high positive and when you were gluten free and they went lower that makes me think something has to be up with the gluten whether you are intolerant or a celiac. I would go for further testing depending on what you have been tested for. I suggest also maybe an Enterolab. Good luck

[lcmcafee2]

Not sure if this is the place to ask the questions or not. My questions seem to fall into this catagory.

I had Tissue Transglutam AB IGA #54, then Gliadin AB IGG #74 and Gliadin AB IGA #29.

Both colonscopy and endoscopy did not verify Celiac

Small Bowel GI did not verify Chron's (only test done while gluten-free)

Colonscopy 5 years ago verified microscopic colitis

Stool test for fat ** normal, I have never eaten the volume of fat grams they said to so of course it is going to be low right? GI Doctor said go get it now, so I did it without eating fat for 3 days prior to the test.

I have been reading about all the fatigue and sleep disorders that others have (as well as I do). The tingling and buzzy feeling in the hands and arms. I also have had it around my scalp. Anxiety, depression, rapid heart rate etc... it seems like I can find myself in most of the posts! Maybe I am getting obsessive I don't know!

I have been gluten-free free now for close to a month but trying to be since November 2004. I am so tired and fatigued that I hate to leave the house any more! Grocery shopping almost has me in tears and I am literally exhasted bringing the food in and putting it away.

Ok, I have had enough now! I am going to my primary doctor Tuesday! Kaiti suggested I have a Thyroid test done. What exactly should I ask for? I know I want to ask for a CBC because I have in the past been anemic, maybe that is where the fatigue is coming into play. I have started a food diary, but find the more I document what I eat the less I want to eat anything!

I get diarrhea eating Cream of Rice for goodness sakes (maybe its the milk, I never have liked the stuff and only use it on the breakfast cereal). Is there a specific test to find out about that? Can't eat tomatoes or oranges (whole, raw, cooked or juiced) without having to run to the toilet then getting mouth sores.

I tried to talk to my 1st GI but he has yet to return my call. The first GI wanted me to continue seeing the second GI so I have an appointment with the 2nd GI in April. He wanted me to wait 6-8 weeks for a follow up, then he wants to do the "picture" test where you swallow the camera. I wonder if I should be gluten-free for that? If I have healed in that time what is that test going to show?

I feel really frustrated, I am having a hard time remembering where/when I read something and when I want to go back and verify it I cannot find it ... Maybe someone could just write me a list of things to ask my doctor to test for. She is really open to that and does not get offended with questions or conversation so I want to be able to talk to her and get it all covered. I want answers (I have read that in other posts as well)

I appreciate this site and the ability to "not feel so alone" with this. Thanks!

Laura

[KaitiUSA]

Your numbers for the tests are high....also when you ask for a thyroid test just say I want to have my thyroid tested....have them check your TSH(I think the most important one), T4, T3, Thyroid peroxidase AB, Thyroglobulin AB....these are all the thyroid tests I had done. The symptoms you are explaining resemble that of thryoid disorders and highly connected with celiac so its worth a look at.

Your endoscopy could have come back negative because there may not be damage to your intestines yet. That does not mean you do not have it...if your blood and endoscopy were both negative that would be another story but I strongly suspect you have it. Anemia also comes with celiac(I'm sure you knew that)

Good luck

[tarnalberry]

The anti-gliandin antibody test is specifically testing for an antibody that recognizes gliandin, the wheat protein. I'd say that if you're immune system is attacking gliandin, you've got a problem with wheat! It's possible, I suppose, to have only an IgG intolerance to wheat, but given the chemical similarity of the other gluten proteins, I probably wouldn't risk it. You know you feel better gluten-free, and know you're going to stay that way, though, so good for you for making positive decisions for your health! :-)

[Guest Addicted2Gluten]

I know that the first time I was tested for Celiac Disease all of the other blood test results checking for celiac disease were normal. That is why most of my doctors dismissed the idea that I had Celiac Disease. I'm not sure of the results of the other tests this time, I will have to check that with my doctor. I assume they were probably normal because he didn't mention otherwise, but I will check on this. About a year ago when I had the Enterolab test, it suggested that I go on a gluten free diet because I showed positive for antibodies and I also had the gene.

Thanks for all of your responses!