Need Help To Read Results

[Gypsy1964]

Hi there. I'm a new person; Well not new to the world haha.

Cannot get through to my very busy doc and lab not there today. Could someone help to decipher the lab results?

Per LabCorp as written:

DQ2 (DQA1 0501/0505, DQB1 02XXPOSITIVE

DQ8 (DQA1 03XX, DQB1 0302) NEGATIVE

Final Results:

DQA1*0201,0501

DQB1*0201,0202

Allele intepretation for all loci based on IMGT/HLA database version 2.26

*******************

Not sure if the last line was needed. Biopsies showed heavy candidis (no damage to villi) That is what doc said as to why my severe diarrhea. I had an intense rash from hell on my lower back in the middle of winter; so I requested a second opinion on the biopsies and a blood test for celiac. The above is what came back. Haven't gotten the second look biopsies results back. I do know the pathologist was miffed (must have HUGE ego issues) because I asked for a second opinion, maybe she needs to look at the blood test above. What are your thoughts?

Thanks.

[Skylark]

Hi there.

That is not a blood test for celiac, but rather a genetic test. It is not diagnostic, but shows that celiac is a possibility. You can be DQ2 or DQ8, have healthy villi, and eat gluten perfectly fine. We don't understand all the genes involved in celiac, and about 30% of the US population has either DQ2 or DQ8 but only an estimated 1.5% has celiac.

The pair DQA1*0501, DQB1*0201 is often called DQ2.5. The other pair, DQA1*0201, DQB1*0202 is called DQ2.2. The DQ2.5 gene does show up in a lot of people with celiac disease but having a single copy is not a guarantee of it. If you look up any celiac research you will see a lot of interest in DQ2.5 right now. Fewer celiacs have DQ2.2, but some definitely do. They are not in any way a guarantee of gluten sensitivity or celiac and your pathologist should not be swayed by the genetic test. Obviously it's reasonable to get a second opinion and a doctor shouldn't be throwing fits.

If you do react to eating gluten, your genes support that it's not "in your head". It is entirely possible to get quite sick from gluten with negative celiac blood tests and intestinal biopsy. Lots of folks on this board can tell you about that!

If the "rash from hell" was blistered and itchy, it may be an autoimmune rash called dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) that is caused by eating gluten. A dermatologist can biopsy the rash and test for antibodies next to the blisters. I don't know much about how it's done but there are people here who have had their celiac diagnosed that way.

Remember that you control what you eat. Once you are done with the testing, you can go on the diet and see if it works for you.

[ravenwoodglass]

Hi there.

If the "rash from hell" was blistered and itchy, it may be an autoimmune rash called dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) that is caused by eating gluten. A dermatologist can biopsy the rash and test for antibodies next to the blisters. I don't know much about how it's done but there are people here who have had their celiac diagnosed that way.

Remember that you control what you eat. Once you are done with the testing, you can go on the diet and see if it works for you.

They need to biopsy the area next to the rash not the rash itself. The skin next to the lesions is where they will find the antibodies. Make sure the derm biopsies the right places. A DH diagnosis is a diagnosis of celiac.

Sometimes the rash is so itchy that you never really see the blisters as they are scratched away as they are forming. Seeing a derm is a good idea as long as they are knowledgeable about DH. Mine weren't.