New Here...do Test Results Mean I Have Celiac?

[Mom2Boys]

I am working with a new doctor to try and figure out why I am tired and sleepy so much and he ordered a lot of tests. When I spoke to him last night, he went over my labs with me. Based on the Gliadin AB IGG being 38 (a positive result is >17), he said he's almost certain I have Celiac. He said the only way to confirm for sure is to have a biopsy done, but he doesn't think it's necessary. My Gliadin AB IGA was 7 and <11 is considered negative. He also ordered HLA typing for Celiac, but those results aren't back yet. He told me I needed to eliminate gluten from my diet and get tested for additional food allergies. I am hypothyroid and he said that is likely from the gluten sensitivity.

All of the testing is confusing. Is the Gliadin AB IGG a strong indicator for celiac or should there be further testing to confirm?

Thanks for any help!

[ravenwoodglass]

I personally would just go ahead and start the diet as your doctor advised. If you do choose to go for a biopsy keep eating gluten until that is done and since there is a chance of a false negative with the endo do start the diet as soon as the endo is done.

[JillianLindsay]

It's a personal choice too. Some people absolutely need to know 100% for sure that they have celiac disease before embarking on the high-maintenance gluten-free diet. Others only need a positive response on the diet to motivate them to stay gluten-free Also you may want to see if your DR is willing to give you a complete Dx (diagnosis) for insurance purposes. Depending on where you live, some people get a tax break on the more expensive gluten-free foods, or a subsidy for groceries, etc. I am also waiting for my HLA typing results. Good luck and welcome to the forum!

[Mom2Boys]

Thanks for the replies! I just got back from the bookstore with the "Gluten-Free Bible" that my doc recommended, so hopefully it will be helpful and not too technical. My doc was explaining that he likes to rely on the IGG results more so than the IGA results; is this typical? My doc is conventionally trained but takes a more alternative approach to his practice. He was saying that he wants to do more IGG food testing, but most insurance companies won't cover it...anyone know why not? Also, what will the HLA results show?

Thanks so much!! (Sorry so many questions.)

[Lisa]

Here is some information for you:

Open Original Shared Link

This is a great place to learn about the diet. Welcome

[happygirl]

You may be interested in running the total IgA, the tTG IgA, and/or EMA IgA tests - discuss with your doctor.

[GFPamela]

what will the HLA results show?

I think the article at celiac.com, "Ten facts you need to know about celiac genetic testing" by Scot Lewey was really helpful to me. And there are others too. I'm waiting for preauthorization by my insurance company, but I'm still going to have a biopsy after a five-week 'gluten challenge' (after being gluten free for 2 yrs). It would have been easier 2 years ago, but I was not well informed. However, many people are satisfied by the positive effects of the diet, so it's a very personal decision. Good luck.

[momxyz]

The anti-gliadin IgG is considered more sensitive than some of the other tests (it will detect a disease state more often than some of the other tests) but, some consider it to be less specific (it may be positive in disease states other than celiac).

But I wonder if some of the "false positives" are true positives, because if you read long enough on this board, you will encounter more than one person who may have had a positive antibody but a negative biopsy.

I think its really good that your Dr. order the HLA test, and I would read all the info offered by the posters in this thread!

[BettyinMD]

I don't think companies like to cover a bunch of testing, because there isnt anything in it for them!

If you are allergic/intolerant to a food(gluten) then the cure is to not eat it!

[BettyinMD]

  Mom2Boys said:

I am working with a new doctor to try and figure out why I am tired and sleepy so much and he ordered a lot of tests. When I spoke to him last night, he went over my labs with me. Based on the Gliadin AB IGG being 38 (a positive result is >17), he said he's almost certain I have Celiac. He said the only way to confirm for sure is to have a biopsy done, but he doesn't think it's necessary. My Gliadin AB IGA was 7 and <11 is considered negative. He also ordered HLA typing for Celiac, but those results aren't back yet. He told me I needed to eliminate gluten from my diet and get tested for additional food allergies. I am hypothyroid and he said that is likely from the gluten sensitivity.

All of the testing is confusing. Is the Gliadin AB IGG a strong indicator for celiac or should there be further testing to confirm?

Thanks for any help!

Were you already gluten free when you had those tests done? Or does it matter?

I understand that one can be gluten intolerant but NOT have celiacs...are the tests the same I wonder?

I only ask, cause lately there seems to be a few of us with hypothyroid that suspect gluten intolerances, and so Im just trying to learn..I had my follow up appt yesterday, but didnt even get in to see the doc..(logn story)

Keep us posted!!

[Chuck8268]

  Mom2Boys said:

I am working with a new doctor to try and figure out why I am tired and sleepy so much and he ordered a lot of tests. When I spoke to him last night, he went over my labs with me. Based on the Gliadin AB IGG being 38 (a positive result is >17), he said he's almost certain I have Celiac. He said the only way to confirm for sure is to have a biopsy done, but he doesn't think it's necessary. My Gliadin AB IGA was 7 and <11 is considered negative. He also ordered HLA typing for Celiac, but those results aren't back yet. He told me I needed to eliminate gluten from my diet and get tested for additional food allergies. I am hypothyroid and he said that is likely from the gluten sensitivity.

All of the testing is confusing. Is the Gliadin AB IGG a strong indicator for celiac or should there be further testing to confirm?

Thanks for any help!

I was always under the impression a biopsy was the gold standard.But maybe that has changed since my Diagnosis over 6 yrs ago.

Chuck

[Mom2Boys]

  BettyinMD said:

Were you already gluten free when you had those tests done? Or does it matter?

I understand that one can be gluten intolerant but NOT have celiacs...are the tests the same I wonder?

I only ask, cause lately there seems to be a few of us with hypothyroid that suspect gluten intolerances, and so Im just trying to learn..I had my follow up appt yesterday, but didnt even get in to see the doc..(logn story)

Keep us posted!!

Hi BettyinMD. No, I wasn't gluten free when the tests were done. My doc wants me to go off gluten and then will retest the gliadin antibody levels in 4 months. I've been reading more and I need to give my doc a call. It sounds like other tests are normally used to help diagnose celiacs, but not the gliadin tests I had done. Apparently, the gliadin tests are good for follow-up to see if the antibodies to gliadin (a component of gluten) are going down. I'm still awaiting results of the HLA typing for celiacs, but I think that just shows the genetics that could make one more susceptible to having celiacs. I want to ask my doc why he ordered the gliadin antibody tests and not the other ones mentioned in this post; I'm sure he has his reasons.

I am hypothyroid, too. The doc said that my hypothyroid could be a result of the celiacs or gluten intolerance. I went to this doc because my family MD wasn't really helping much. I've been feeling very tired and my family doc just blames everything on my extra weight. I'm in PA, but my new doc is in MD. I really like him, but just wish he was closer.

[Mom2Boys]

  Chuck8268 said:

I was always under the impression a biopsy was the gold standard.But maybe that has changed since my Diagnosis over 6 yrs ago.

Chuck

Hi Chuck. Yes, you are right. My doc is more alternative in his approach and just feels there's no need to put me through the biopsy if he's fairly sure it's celiacs. As I learn more, I may decide to have one done. I know he would prescribe it if I wanted to have it done.

[Mom2Boys]

Thank you for all the help...I've been reading everything recommended and trying to absorb it all. If I turn out to be gluten intolerant and not have celiacs, what is the difference? Both would require eliminating gluten from my diet, right?

Can gluten be found in things other than foods, like cosmetics, lotions, pills, supplements, etc.? How do you know what is safe to use and what isn't?

Thanks!!