Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • 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

How Do I Read These Test Results?

amber2028

Recommended Posts

amber2028 Newbie
amber2028
Posted

I'm sorry if this is a really repetitive post, but I am at a loss for what else to do. I have an almost 2 year old who has had diarrhea 3+ times a day for almost 3 months. He has not gained any weight in 6 months. I am desperate to find out whats wrong with him. His pediatrician really has no clue what is wrong with him, so based off of my insistence and the recommendation of a pediatric GI we sent him for lab tests last week. His pediatric allergy test came back all negative, including wheat, and his Prometheus IBD Serology (Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis) also came back negative. The rest of his results said that he was severely dehydrated and has some inflammation. I am at a total loss as to what the results of his Prometheus Celiac Serology mean. The summary was that the "Results may support a diagnosis of celiac disease, but are not specific." His pediatrician took that, and the fact that the allergy test came back negative for wheat, as he doesn't have it. Here is the actual test results. I will be so grateful for anyone who can help me understand what they mean!

AGA IgG +

AGA IgA -

TTG IgA -

EMA IgA -

Anti-Gliadin IgG ELISA (AGA IgG) 11.3 U/ml

Anti-Gliadin IgA ELISA (AGA IgA) <1.2 U/ml

Anti-Human Tissue Transglutaminase tgA ELISA (TTG IgA) <1.2 U/ml

Anti-Edomysial IgA IEA (EMA IgA) Negative

Total Serum IgA by Nephelometry (Total IgA) 58 mg/dl

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

I'm sorry if this is a really repetitive post, but I am at a loss for what else to do. I have an almost 2 year old who has had diarrhea 3+ times a day for almost 3 months. He has not gained any weight in 6 months. I am desperate to find out whats wrong with him. His pediatrician really has no clue what is wrong with him, so based off of my insistence and the recommendation of a pediatric GI we sent him for lab tests last week. His pediatric allergy test came back all negative, including wheat, and his Prometheus IBD Serology (Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis) also came back negative. The rest of his results said that he was severely dehydrated and has some inflammation. I am at a total loss as to what the results of his Prometheus Celiac Serology mean. The summary was that the "Results may support a diagnosis of celiac disease, but are not specific." His pediatrician took that, and the fact that the allergy test came back negative for wheat, as he doesn't have it. Here is the actual test results. I will be so grateful for anyone who can help me understand what they mean!

AGA IgG +

AGA IgA -

TTG IgA -

EMA IgA -

Anti-Gliadin IgG ELISA (AGA IgG) 11.3 U/ml

Anti-Gliadin IgA ELISA (AGA IgA) <1.2 U/ml

Anti-Human Tissue Transglutaminase tgA ELISA (TTG IgA) <1.2 U/ml

Anti-Edomysial IgA IEA (EMA IgA) Negative

Total Serum IgA by Nephelometry (Total IgA) 58 mg/dl

The fact that he is not allergic to wheat is of no relevance. Celiac is not an allergy. His total IGA is pretty low so that would throw the IGA tests off. It could cause a false negative. However his IgG was postive which is the test that I think would be looked at with an IGA deficit.

Unless you plan to have an endoscopy done by a GI doctor I would get him on the diet.

Luvbeingamommy Contributor
Luvbeingamommy
Posted

The fact that he is not allergic to wheat is of no relevance. Celiac is not an allergy. His total IGA is pretty low so that would throw the IGA tests off. It could cause a false negative. However his IgG was postive which is the test that I think would be looked at with an IGA deficit.

Unless you plan to have an endoscopy done by a GI doctor I would get him on the diet.

That looks very similar to mt blood work, if I remember right. I got a negative biopsy though :(. I am getting a copy of my results tomorrow.

My 2 year old also has loose stools and still gaining, but slowed down a lot. I just got his celiac panel done today.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

That looks very similar to mt blood work, if I remember right. I got a negative biopsy though :(. I am getting a copy of my results tomorrow.

My 2 year old also has loose stools and still gaining, but slowed down a lot. I just got his celiac panel done today.

There can be false negatives on both blood and biopsy so do try the diet strictly for a bit no matter what the results.

Luvbeingamommy Contributor
Luvbeingamommy
Posted

There can be false negatives on both blood and biopsy so do try the diet strictly for a bit no matter what the results.

So what is the gold standard to be diagnosed? Why do some do the gene test??

nora-n Rookie
nora-n
Posted

In smal children, the immune restonse is not that high.

Here the total IgA is not that high either.

We have seen some abstracts on pubmed.com that say the antigliadin IgG is more accurate in small children, meaning that it is probably celiac with a positive antigliadin IgG.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      130,236
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Elaine Brostrom
    Newest Member
    Elaine Brostrom
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Zuma888
      Hypothetical question about antibodies

      By Zuma888 · Posted

      I just got my test results after a less than 2-week gluten challenge consuming about 5 g of gluten per day on average.  Anti tTG-IgA: <0.2 AU/ml (<8 is negative) IgA: 180 mg/dl (Reference range is 70-400) I previously had been on a gluten-free diet for around 3 years or so, with occasional cheating and not being strict about cross-contamination. I am however still suffering from the effects of the gluten challenge (food sensitivities, slight brain fog, weird stool, fatigue, swollen thyroid, bodyaches). Is this likely to be NCGS rather than celiac disease given the test results and my history? Note: I have one copy of HLA-DQ8.
    • trents
      Inflammation and Menier’s disease link?

      By trents · Posted

      How long have you been strictly gluten free? Certainly, it would be good to look into vitamin and mineral deficiencies and supplementation. The B vitamins, magnesium and D3 are all very important to neurological health. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to reverse gluten-induced neurological damage damage if it has gone on for a long time. 
    • nataliallano
      Inflammation and Menier’s disease link?

      By nataliallano · Posted

      Thanks Trents I'm strict with my gluten-free diet now. I just don't feel any better. I'm going to get tested for vitamins and minerals to see if I need some supplements. For sure I got some damage that doctors call Menier's and the only way they treat it is with medicine that does damage my body more than it helps.   
    • Zuma888
      Hypothetical question about antibodies

      By Zuma888 · Posted

      Thank you Scott for your helpful response! Based on this, would you say someone who is on a gluten-free diet - but not strict about cross-contamination and occasional cheating - and tests negative for tTg-IgA while having normal total IgA is not likely to have celiac, even if they have been 'gluten-free' for years?
    • Scott Adams
      Hypothetical question about antibodies

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      That’s a really insightful observation about antibody testing and the gluten challenge! You’re absolutely right that antibody levels can remain elevated for months or even years after going gluten-free, especially if there’s ongoing cross-contamination or occasional slip-ups. The immune system doesn’t reset overnight—it can take time for antibodies like tTG-IgA to normalize, which is why many doctors recommend waiting at least 6–12 months of strict gluten-free eating before retesting. For someone who’s been gluten-free for less than two years or hasn’t been meticulous about avoiding cross-contact, there’s absolutely a chance they’d still test positive, since even small amounts of gluten can keep antibodies elevated. This is partly why the gluten challenge (where you eat gluten before testing) exists—it’s designed to provoke a measurable immune response in people who’ve been gluten-free long enough for antibodies to drop. But you raise a great point: the challenge isn’t perfect, and false negatives can happen if the timing or amount of gluten isn’t sufficient to trigger a strong antibody response. This is why diagnosis often combines antibody tests with other tools like genetic testing or endoscopy. Your question highlights just how nuanced celiac testing can be! For people with celiac disease hidden gluten in their diets is the main cause of elevated Tissue Transglutaminase IgA Antibodies (tTG-IgA), but there are other conditions, including cow's milk/casein intolerance, that can also cause this, and here is an article about the other possible causes:      
×
×
  • Create New...