Positive Endomysial Antibody And Normal Biopsy

[mrsgwill]

My daughter (5 years) had the celiac blood tests a few months ago results - TTG = 5.2 u/mL and Endomysial antibody = positive and therefore had an endoscopic biopsy with the results = normal. On the day of the biopsy (July) the blood tests were retaken and the TTG = 17 u/mL and Endomysial antibody = positive

[sb2178]

Oh yes, eliminate gluten. Why develop severely damaged cells if you can prevent it? She also runs of risk of nutritional deficiencies and developing lactose intolerance. Increased infections are not uncommon in celiacs, as are other allergies/intolerances. And, you don't want to slow her growth from lack of nutrients.

Positive EMAs really are pretty diagnostic. The damage may not be visible on a biopsy, but the intestines are large while biopsies are tiny. And, you may find that eliminating gluten also reduces other health issues which you may not even realize are health issues.

[ravenwoodglass]

Oh yes, eliminate gluten. Why develop severely damaged cells if you can prevent it? She also runs of risk of nutritional deficiencies and developing lactose intolerance. Increased infections are not uncommon in celiacs, as are other allergies/intolerances. And, you don't want to slow her growth from lack of nutrients.

Positive EMAs really are pretty diagnostic. The damage may not be visible on a biopsy, but the intestines are large while biopsies are tiny. And, you may find that eliminating gluten also reduces other health issues which you may not even realize are health issues.

I agree. Think of it this way if the doctor found a 5mm cancerous lesion would you want to wait until it was 20mm before getting rid of it?

We have 22 ft of small intestine and the damage can be spottly and easily missed. There are also some of us who have other organs, like the brain attacked full force before GI symptoms are more than a annoyance. Doctors often want us to have as much damage as possible before they will diagnose. Why make her sicker and sicker and possibly have her develop other issues that may not resolve before you start her on the diet. I would get her gluten free ASAP.

[mrsgwill]

Thank you so much, you replies are my instincts too!!! It is such a big decision to eliminate such a huge range of foods from a child's diet - i just needed reassurance!!!!

x x x

[nora-n]

These tests listed are only positive if there has been cell damage, they are not ordinary antibody tests for gliadin (which is a part of gluten)

Print out these:

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

[Skylark]

We're thinking along the exact same lines, Nora. I was going to link those two studies and your doctor really needs to see them just before you fire him and find one with some common sense.

Keeping your daughter on gluten is a terrible idea. There is no advantage to her developing intestinal damage for a "diagnosis". She is in a tremendously important developmental period and if she goes on to develop sprue she will be deprived of vitamins and nutrition that she needs to grow well.

Your analogy of pre-diabetes is absolutely correct and your daughter needs to be gluten-free for life. It is a blessing that you caught it this early, and before there was a lot of damage.