Need Help Looking At Blood Test Results

[carecare]

I'm a bit surprised. I was told all was normal...and everything was ok. My husband has realized he is gluten intolerant and will never go back to eating gluten so I was curious as to what my daughter's blood test results were from 5 yrs ago. The end of the report says...final results =abnormal. Maybe it wasn't abnormal enough to warrant telling me so but still. What do you people with experience in looking at these blood tests think of the results. The reason she was tested for Celiac was because she had her appendix out and it was noted she had high levels of lympocytes surrounding her appendix. That coupled with years of being sick the dr ordered the test. I can say though, that she's not been as sick as she used to be ...from the age of 5-12/13...she's now 17 and the last few years hasn't had the diarrhea like she did when she was younger. Anyway, I guess from looking at the report the only elevated reading was the antigliadin AB.

Antigliadin AB-IGA 47 (flagged as high)

Immunoglobulin A: 123

What is WBC...this was flagged at 4.6 as L

Thanks for any help understanding this.

CC

[tarnalberry]

It's a very incomplete test for celiac. It indicates she may well have it - she's producing antibodies against gliadin (wheat protein).

WBC is white blood count, and is lowered in instances of stress to the immune system.

It's not abnormal at all for adolescents to have a "honeymoon" period during the teenage and/or early 20's, where they don't experience the same symptoms, but damage is still being done. If she's still on gluten, I would highly recommend getting her retested (a FULL panel - anti-gliadin IgA and IgG, total IgA, EMA, and tTg).

[carecare]

The report says "Celiac Disease Antibody Panel"...so should the other things you listed be listed in this report? It's kind of confusing to look at.

I'm surprised I was not told the results. Kinda strange....but maybe combined with the rest of the test it would be determined not positive for celiac then?

CC

It's a very incomplete test for celiac. It indicates she may well have it - she's producing antibodies against gliadin (wheat protein).

WBC is white blood count, and is lowered in instances of stress to the immune system.

It's not abnormal at all for adolescents to have a "honeymoon" period during the teenage and/or early 20's, where they don't experience the same symptoms, but damage is still being done. If she's still on gluten, I would highly recommend getting her retested (a FULL panel - anti-gliadin IgA and IgG, total IgA, EMA, and tTg).

[carecare]

I found this in an article on what the blood test results mean. I'm so confused..LOL...because why would the dr. not tell me of this result? Her test was positive for IgA antigliadin AB at 47 units.

Both IgA and IgG anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) are detected in sera of patients with gluten sensitive enteropathy (celiac disease). IgG anti-gliadin antibodies are more sensitive but are less specific markers for disease compared with IgA class antibodies. IgA anti-gliadin antibodies are less sensitive but are more specific. In clinical trials, the IgA antibodies have a specificity of 97% but the sensitivity is only 71%. That means that, if a patient is IgA positive, there is a 97% probability that they have celiac disease.

The report says "Celiac Disease Antibody Panel"...so should the other things you listed be listed in this report? It's kind of confusing to look at.

I'm surprised I was not told the results. Kinda strange....but maybe combined with the rest of the test it would be determined not positive for celiac then?

CC