Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Ttg Positive After 1 Year Gluten Free?

Mom2Twins

Recommended Posts

Mom2Twins Rookie
Mom2Twins
Posted

Hi everyone. I need to ask the experts on this board.

I asked my doc (who I adore, by the way, and never would have been diagnosed if he had not suggested celiac) to run a celiac panel on me, as I am still having occasional *gluten* symptoms, and would like to rule out that I am still accidentally ingesting gluten. I have been gluten-free for one year.

They tested TTG (IgA, I think) and that came back positive. I think my result was 89 (it was over 200 last year). My EMA came back negative.

I thought all the tests were supposed to go negative if you're gluten-free? My doc said it just meant that I was still I celiac, and that my EMA was negative, which showed him I'm doing a good job with my diet.

What do you guys think?

Thanks!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


dilettantesteph Collaborator
dilettantesteph
Posted

I think that you are having problems with cross contamination.

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted
Hi everyone. I need to ask the experts on this board.

I asked my doc (who I adore, by the way, and never would have been diagnosed if he had not suggested celiac) to run a celiac panel on me, as I am still having occasional *gluten* symptoms, and would like to rule out that I am still accidentally ingesting gluten. I have been gluten-free for one year.

They tested TTG (IgA, I think) and that came back positive. I think my result was 89 (it was over 200 last year). My EMA came back negative.

I thought all the tests were supposed to go negative if you're gluten-free? My doc said it just meant that I was still I celiac, and that my EMA was negative, which showed him I'm doing a good job with my diet.

What do you guys think?

Thanks!

Your doctor is not running the correct test to see if you are ingesting gluten. The tTg IgA tests for intestinal damage and other autoimmune problems can also make this elevate. This is why it is run in conjunction with the other tests in the panel. What he needs to run is the AGA IgA test, which is the anti-gliadin measurement of whether you are making antibodies to gluten from your diet. If this is positive, then you are ingesting it somewhere.

The EMA is not an indicator test of gluten ingestion and is never used to re-check levels. It is a diagnostic tool only and very specific for Celiac Disease.

  • 3 weeks later...
Mom2Twins Rookie
Mom2Twins
Posted
  • Author
Your doctor is not running the correct test to see if you are ingesting gluten. The tTg IgA tests for intestinal damage and other autoimmune problems can also make this elevate. This is why it is run in conjunction with the other tests in the panel. What he needs to run is the AGA IgA test, which is the anti-gliadin measurement of whether you are making antibodies to gluten from your diet. If this is positive, then you are ingesting it somewhere.

The EMA is not an indicator test of gluten ingestion and is never used to re-check levels. It is a diagnostic tool only and very specific for Celiac Disease.

Thanks for the info, very helpful. I'll check with him next time I see him. I think our labs just have one panel that they run for celiac, I'm not sure that they do the AGA IgA test. I'll find out.

I hope that I don't have another autouimmune disease going on. Maybe my intestines are just taking some time to heal.

  • 2 weeks later...
tunibell Rookie
tunibell
Posted

I actually just read a study that showed that 61% of folks with diagnosed celiac disease on a gluten-free diet still had positive TTG IgA readings after one year. This number included both people who were extremely strict and those who were only mostly compliant. Let me know if you'd like me to send you the study; I know it made me feel a lot better!

sadeew Newbie
sadeew
Posted

Hi.

You might be having a reaction to another food. The IgA test is less common and a bit limited and needs to be done by a very experienced person. The IgG and IgE tests, when elevated, mean you are negatively reacting to a food, any food.

It is very easy to accidentally be eating gluten so recheck all your food and beverages and make sure everything is gluten-free. If it is, you might want to request a general food allergy blood test that measures both IgE and IgG against a whole list of foods.

I didn't know I had a problem wiht dairy until I had a cold and quit dairy but stayed off the gluten and after 2 weeks I ate some dairy and had what felt like a gluten reaction. Turns out it was the cheese.

Tunibell's post is interesting. I'd say cover your bases, be diligent and be patient and you will get this figured out and feeling fine in no time.

Best of luck to you~

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to pothosqueen's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      16

      Positive biopsy

      In the study linked above, the little girl switched to a gluten free diet and gained enough weight that that fat pad was replenished and surgery was not needed. Here's the full article link... Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Final Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6476019/
    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jordan Carlson's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      1

      Fruits & Veggies

      Hello, @Jordan Carlson, So glad you're feeling better. Tecta is a proton pump inhibitor. PPI's also interfere with the production of the intrinsic factor needed to absorb Vitamin B12. Increasing the amount of B12 you supplement has helped overcome the lack of intrinsic factor needed to absorb B12. Proton pump inhibitors also reduce the...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to pothosqueen's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      16

      Positive biopsy

      @pothosqueen, Welcome to the tribe! You'll want to get checked for nutritional deficiencies and start on supplementation of B vitamins, especially Thiamine Vitamin B 1. There's some scientific evidence that the fat pad that buffers the aorta which disappears in SMA is caused by deficiency in Thiamine. In Thiamine deficiency, the body...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Inmate with Celiac Disease Wins $630,000 After Jail Denies Gluten-Free Food

    5. trents
      - trents replied to pothosqueen's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      16

      Positive biopsy

      Wow! You're pretty young to have a diagnosis of SMA syndrome. But youth also has its advantages when it comes to healing, without a doubt. You might be surprised to find out how your health improves and how much better you feel once you eliminate gluten from your diet. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that, when gluten is consumed, triggers an...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,019
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Nancy Adams
    Newest Member
    Nancy Adams
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Positive biopsy

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      In the study linked above, the little girl switched to a gluten free diet and gained enough weight that that fat pad was replenished and surgery was not needed.   Here's the full article link... Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Final Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6476019/
    • knitty kitty
      Fruits & Veggies

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jordan Carlson, So glad you're feeling better.   Tecta is a proton pump inhibitor.  PPI's also interfere with the production of the intrinsic factor needed to absorb Vitamin B12.  Increasing the amount of B12 you supplement has helped overcome the lack of intrinsic factor needed to absorb B12. Proton pump inhibitors also reduce the production of digestive juices (stomach acids).  This results in foods not being digested thoroughly.  If foods are not digested sufficiently, the vitamins and other nutrients aren't released from the food, and the body cannot absorb them.  This sets up a vicious cycle. Acid reflux and Gerd are actually symptoms of producing too little stomach acid.  Insufficient stomach acid production is seen with Thiamine and Niacin deficiencies.  PPI's like Tecta also block the transporters that pull Thiamine into cells, preventing absorption of thiamine.  Other symptoms of Thiamine deficiency are difficulty swallowing, gagging, problems with food texture, dysphagia. Other symptoms of Thiamine deficiency are symptoms of ADHD and anxiety.  Vyvanse also blocks thiamine transporters contributing further to Thiamine deficiency.  Pristiq has been shown to work better if thiamine is supplemented at the same time because thiamine is needed to make serotonin.  Doctors don't recognize anxiety and depression and adult onset ADHD as early symptoms of Thiamine deficiency. Stomach acid is needed to digest Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in fruits and vegetables.  Ascorbic acid left undigested can cause intestinal upsets, anxiety, and heart palpitations.   Yes, a child can be born with nutritional deficiencies if the parents were deficient.  Parents who are thiamine deficient have offspring with fewer thiamine transporters on cell surfaces, making thiamine deficiency easier to develop in the children.  A person can struggle along for years with subclinical vitamin deficiencies.  Been here, done this.  Please consider supplementing with Thiamine in the form TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) which helps immensely with dysphagia and neurological symptoms like anxiety, depression, and ADHD symptoms.  Benfotiamine helps with improving intestinal health.  A B Complex and NeuroMag (a magnesium supplement), and Vitamin D are needed also.
    • knitty kitty
      Positive biopsy

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @pothosqueen, Welcome to the tribe! You'll want to get checked for nutritional deficiencies and start on supplementation of B vitamins, especially Thiamine Vitamin B 1.   There's some scientific evidence that the fat pad that buffers the aorta which disappears in SMA is caused by deficiency in Thiamine.   In Thiamine deficiency, the body burns its stored fat as a source of fuel.  That fat pad between the aorta and digestive system gets used as fuel, too. Ask for an Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test to look for thiamine deficiency.  Correction of thiamine deficiency can help restore that fat pad.   Best wishes for your recovery!   Interesting Reading: Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Final Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31089433/#:~:text=Affiliations,tissue and results in SMAS.  
    • trents
      Positive biopsy

      By trents · Posted

      Wow! You're pretty young to have a diagnosis of SMA syndrome. But youth also has its advantages when it comes to healing, without a doubt. You might be surprised to find out how your health improves and how much better you feel once you eliminate gluten from your diet. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that, when gluten is consumed, triggers an attack on the villous lining of the small bowel. This is the section of the intestines where all our nutrition is absorbed. It is made up of billions of tiny finger-like projections that create a tremendous surface area for absorbing nutrients. For the person with celiac disease, unchecked gluten consumption generates inflammation that wears down these fingers and, over time, greatly reduces the nutrient absorbing efficiency of the small bowel lining. This can generate a whole host of other nutrient deficiency related medical problems. We also now know that the autoimmune reaction to gluten is not necessarily limited to the lining of the small bowel such that celiac disease can damage other body systems and organs such as the liver and the joints and cause neurological problems.  It can take around two years for the villous lining to completely heal but most people start feeling better well before then. It's also important to realize that celiac disease can cause intolerance to some other foods whose protein structures are similar to gluten. Chief among them are dairy and oats but also eggs, corn and soy. Just keep that in mind.
    • pothosqueen
      Positive biopsy

      By pothosqueen · Posted

      26F!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.