Non-celiac Gluten Sensitivity

[Mom2Boys]

I recently got the results back from my labs; the genetic tests rule out Celiac because the HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 markers are negative. Not sure what the HLA-DQB1 and HLA-DQA1 tests mean, but there were numbers listed with those test results. Does anyone know?

My anti-gliadin antibodies (IgG) were high, but my anti-gliadin IgA antibodies were negative. Do I still need to go gluten free? I haven't been able to talk with my doctor after the test results were back, but I'm really curious. I don't have many GI issues except I alternate between constipation and sudden urgency from one day to the next. My main complaint that I'm trying to find the cause for, is fatigue. I also have vague muscle aches, mostly in my upper legs and have brain fog. I am also hypothyroid if that means anything.

If anyone can help me here, I would really appreciate it! Thanks!

[ravenwoodglass]

It would be very helpful if you could post the actual results and the reference ranges that were used for the tests.

If the antigliadin tests were positive then as far as I know that would mean that yes you should be gluten free. Also if these were Enterolab tests you can give the lab a call and they will be helpful with any questions you have.

[Mom2Boys]

It would be very helpful if you could post the actual results and the reference ranges that were used for the tests.

If the antigliadin tests were positive then as far as I know that would mean that yes you should be gluten free. Also if these were Enterolab tests you can give the lab a call and they will be helpful with any questions you have.

My tests were not through Enterolab, but were blood tests done through Quest. Here are the tests and their results and ranges:

Gliadin AB igG - 38 (> 17 U/mL Positive)

Gliadin AB IgA - 7 (<11 U/mL Negative)

HLA Typing:

HLA-DQB1 0202

HLA-DQB1 0602

HLA-DQ2 Negative

HLA-DQ8 Negative

HLA-DQA1 01

HLA-DQA1 02

Thanks for your reply!

[momxyz]

I would definitely call either Quest or Enterolab and get an interpretation....

in the meantime check out this article:

Open Original Shared Link

if I am reading this article correctly you are the DQ 2.2 subtype. The association of this subtype with celiac disease is low - about 1% of celiacs have this subtype according to this article. I will quote once sentence: "the 2.2 subtype does confer some immunity to gliadin, permitting celiac disease."

In other words, this subtype is associated with some production of antibody to gliadin, as your IgG results show. Where there's smoke there's fire. Why not try going gluten free and see if that helps you?

[ravenwoodglass]

You could also be IGA deficient would would produce a false negative with the IGA tests. You would need to ask your doctor for a total IGA to find that out.

[no-more-muffins]

Sometimes trying a gluten-free diet is the only way to really know. All my tests were negative including sensitive stool testing from enterolab. I haven't done the gene testing. Even though all my tests are negative I know that gluten makes me sick. There could be a few explanations:

I could have a sensitivity to something other than gliaden

Test results are never 100% accurate, they make mistakes, something can happen to the sample etc.

I wouldn't take the gene information to completely rule out celiac, or at least gluten sensitivity. Just because MOST people have DQ2 or DQ8 that doesn't mean you CAN'T have another gene and still have a problem with gluten. They just dont' know that much about the whole gluten thing.

I think I'd give the gluten-free diet a try.

[Mom2Boys]

Thanks to everyone for the helpful information. I'm trying to eliminate gluten and I'm finding that some sources aren't so obvious. Trying to decipher the ingredients in some products is tricky. I know celiacs can feel very sick from just one crumb containing gluten, but I'm not sure if I have to be that strict or not. Guess time will tell.

[frantastk]

Your results sound very similar to my daughter's results. She had a negative ttg blood test, but positive antigliadin IGA. The ped GI has been leaning toward thinking she was celiac, so ran the gene test to decide whether to biopsy her or not. Her gene test came back negative. I don't have copies from the lab for the gene test yet (just got the call from the doc a couple days ago). We're going to put her on a gluten-free diet. Her main symptom is failure to thrive, with some very minor gi issues and stomach discomfort/aches (she's only 21 months old and doesn't really talk yet, so it's hard to tell sometimes). We have a family history of some gluten issues and lots of food allergies and intolerances, so we thought with our family history and her antigliadin antibodies it would be worth a shot to see if it helps her grow. The ped GI just says not celiac, lets pump her with a lot more calories. Our regular ped is a lot more open minded and wanted to just consider her celiac with the positive antibodies. I had a celiac panel done a couple weeks ago and my dr just called and said it was negative, but I'm going to go pick up copies of the lab report to see if my antibodies were elevated, too. I have to go gluten-free for my dd anyway since she's still nursing. I have IBS, anxiety and fatigue so I'm looking forward to seeing if gluten-free makes any difference for myself. I must say the diet does seem to have a pretty steep learning curve, but once we get the hang of it, it shouldn't be too bad.

p.s. totally just noticed that when you type g f, your message comes out saying gluten-free. Cool!

[Mom2Boys]

Your results sound very similar to my daughter's results. She had a negative ttg blood test, but positive antigliadin IGA. The ped GI has been leaning toward thinking she was celiac, so ran the gene test to decide whether to biopsy her or not. Her gene test came back negative. I don't have copies from the lab for the gene test yet (just got the call from the doc a couple days ago). We're going to put her on a gluten-free diet. Her main symptom is failure to thrive, with some very minor gi issues and stomach discomfort/aches (she's only 21 months old and doesn't really talk yet, so it's hard to tell sometimes). We have a family history of some gluten issues and lots of food allergies and intolerances, so we thought with our family history and her antigliadin antibodies it would be worth a shot to see if it helps her grow. The ped GI just says not celiac, lets pump her with a lot more calories. Our regular ped is a lot more open minded and wanted to just consider her celiac with the positive antibodies. I had a celiac panel done a couple weeks ago and my dr just called and said it was negative, but I'm going to go pick up copies of the lab report to see if my antibodies were elevated, too. I have to go gluten-free for my dd anyway since she's still nursing. I have IBS, anxiety and fatigue so I'm looking forward to seeing if gluten-free makes any difference for myself. I must say the diet does seem to have a pretty steep learning curve, but once we get the hang of it, it shouldn't be too bad.

Best wishes to you and your little one! I hope the changes are successful and help her gain. It's good you have several doctors helping to get her well. I'm reading labels, but finding I don't know what a lot of the stuff is. I've got to do more "homework" and maybe make a cheat sheet along to the grocery store until I have this down better. Good luck with everything!