Celiac Vs. Wheat Allergy

[scarlett77]

I'm wondering how many of you who have a confirmed Celiac diagnosis that have also had a RAST allergy test that included wheat. I understand that Celiac is NOT an allergy, but I am wondering if a Celiac person would always test positive on a RAST for wheat or if a wheat reaction is a SECONDARY actual allergy? Does that make any sense?

I'm curious because my Celiac son had tested positive on the RAST for wheat so I'm wondering if he really is allergic to it in addition to Celiac. Or if him being Celiac makes him predisposed to test positive? I realize a RAST test is not an accurate test, but it still has me curious...

[sa1937]

I'm wondering how many of you who have a confirmed Celiac diagnosis that have also had a RAST allergy test that included wheat. I understand that Celiac is NOT an allergy, but I am wondering if a Celiac person would always test positive on a RAST for wheat or if a wheat reaction is a SECONDARY actual allergy? Does that make any sense?

I'm curious because my Celiac son had tested positive on the RAST for wheat so I'm wondering if he really is allergic to it in addition to Celiac. Or if him being Celiac makes him predisposed to test positive? I realize a RAST test is not an accurate test, but it still has me curious...

That would be me. I had a positive celiac blood panel followed by an EGD and positive biopsy that confirmed celiac.

I just got the results of my basic RAST test yesterday (wheat, milk, eggs, etc.) that came up with no allergies in spite of my celiac diagnosis (the supposed "gold standard"). It was an IgE test so obviously was either not the right test or just a waste of Medicare dollars. So I'm just not sure what a RAST test is supposed to reveal unless someone would have an anaphylactic reaction to something like peanuts. Since celiac is an autoimmune disease, I don't know that it would show up anything on a RAST test. I'm guessing that someone could have an allergic reaction to wheat in addition to having celiac.

Curious to read what other replies you get...

[tarnalberry]

They are different chemical processes in the body. It is possible to produce ONLY IgG and IgA antibodies to gluten (celiac disease) OR to produce ONLY IgE antibodies to wheat protein (wheat allergy) OR both. Having one does NOT predispose you to the other.

[vbecton]

I'm wondering how many of you who have a confirmed Celiac diagnosis that have also had a RAST allergy test that included wheat. I understand that Celiac is NOT an allergy, but I am wondering if a Celiac person would always test positive on a RAST for wheat or if a wheat reaction is a SECONDARY actual allergy? Does that make any sense?

I'm curious because my Celiac son had tested positive on the RAST for wheat so I'm wondering if he really is allergic to it in addition to Celiac. Or if him being Celiac makes him predisposed to test positive? I realize a RAST test is not an accurate test, but it still has me curious...

I have a confirmed Celiac diagnosis and a negative RAST for wheat.

[scarlett77]

So just as I thought...my son probably also has a secondary sensitivity/allergy to wheat. Not that it means much since our household is gluten free anyway, but it doesn't hurt to actually know.