Bloodwork

[JacobsMom]

We are going for bloodwork soon...What do I need to look for? I was hoping that the Gastro doc would do bloodwork on Jacob every month but he says he wont but every 3 months...

He has never said exactly what the blood work does so please tell me what to look for and what should be normal and exactly what they look for in the blood work...

Thanks

Brandi

[celiac3270]

Your doctor, if running a full celiac panel will do the AGA IgA, AGA IgG, EMA, Total serum, and the tTG.

The AGA tests (IgA and IgG) are considered pretty useless now. The two that should definitely be run are the EMA and the tTG. Those are the two most accurate (the tTG is the best). An endoscopy should also be run, and you might want to do gene testing.

With the blood work, they're looking for antibodies. These antibodies, in celiacs, are much higher than in that of the regular population and presence of them signifies a reaction to gliadin.

[celiac3270]

Oh, I'm sorry...is this for diagnosis or follow-up? If follow-up, then different standards apply, such as: gene testing isn't necessary.....

With the follow-up, they would be looking for the antibody levels to go down...

Sorry, I'm not familiar with your story.

[KaitiUSA]

Yea, if he is getting the initial testing, go with the tests that celiac3270 mentioned.

If he is going for a followup test, he should get the tests done that had come back positive last time to see if levels have come down.