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Need Help Re: Blood Work Results

Momma Ta

By Momma Ta
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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Momma Ta Newbie
Momma Ta
Posted

Hello! I have extensive family history of celiac - both sisters and their children, as well as an uncle and cousin. I have been told that I am negative, however i knot sure that my doctor is familiar enough with celiac to really be sure.

My blood work in 2009: IgA 51mg/dl & Celiac screen transglutinase antibody 6.3 ab/units

My blood work last week: IgA 64 mg/do & Celiac screen transglutinase antibody 8.6 ab/units

I am also 7 weeks pregnant and am concerned for baby - my one sister had a miscarriage due to malnutrition from celiac, which is what led to all of getting tested...

Just looking for some straightforward answers if there are any.

Thanks in advance!

- Tara

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cassP Contributor
cassP
Posted

Hello! I have extensive family history of celiac - both sisters and their children, as well as an uncle and cousin. I have been told that I am negative, however i knot sure that my doctor is familiar enough with celiac to really be sure.

My blood work in 2009: IgA 51mg/dl & Celiac screen transglutinase antibody 6.3 ab/units

My blood work last week: IgA 64 mg/do & Celiac screen transglutinase antibody 8.6 ab/units

I am also 7 weeks pregnant and am concerned for baby - my one sister had a miscarriage due to malnutrition from celiac, which is what led to all of getting tested...

Just looking for some straightforward answers if there are any.

Thanks in advance!

- Tara

first off- your Iga of 51?, then again at 64.. Im assuming thats your Total Iga Serum... Mine was 60 on both my tests... Its not Deficient enough to be "sickly" but its below range and means that your TTG numbers could be a false low and make your tests inconclusive... I too had very low ttg numbers.. A 6, then a 7... But my EMA was positive/present.. And my genes are double DQ8, and after selfdiagnosing myself and going glutn free for a few weeks- i got DH ..

I think its very much a possibility that u have celiac... If i were u (since you're pregnant)- i wouldnt take any unneccesary risks.. I would go gluten free now- but in a real healthy way by eating LOTS of fresh fruits and vegtables and lean natural proteins... Maybe some rice... But dont indulge in all those gluten free cookies and cereals and breads.. They have a lot of junk... Ive also read on here to avoid flax. Ive read elsewhere that herbs and spices are best to be avoided while pregnant unless you're full term and looking to bring on labor

im a LMT- avoid massage till 2nd trimester- then only prenatal massage on your side .. Avoid hand, feet, and calf massages till approaching due date.

I wouldnt do gluten challenges for more testing till you're done nursing... And relax- absolutely u can have a smmoth and successful pregnancy :)

Mari Enthusiast
Mari
Posted

I agree with CassP and with so many relatives with gluten sensitivity it would be wise to go gluten free. The usual blood tests may not be positive so you might consider having the stool tests which are more sensitive and may show celiac related antibodies. See the Enterolab.com website. Several; other labs now offer stool testing. More information about your risk of developing gluten sensitivies could be gained by having either the DNA marker analysis or the Molecular Serology test (see Prometheus Labs).

As an example CassP was tested and found to have DQ8/DQ8. Cass was at the highest risk of developing celiac disease with 2 main Celiac genes. I am a DQ8/DQ6 amd also was at high risk for developing celiac disease from the main Celiac gene DQ8 and high risk for developing non-celiac sprue (Leaky Gut Syndrome) from the DQ6 gene. All of CassP's children will inherit one of his/hers DQ8 genes and will be at high risk for celiac disease. On the other hand all of my children would inherit either the high risk DQ8 gene or the Leaky Gut DQ6 gene. In addition the information will show predispositions to other autoimmune problems so that you and your Dr can cope with the related problems.

cassP Contributor
cassP
Posted

ps- i just found out im hypothyroid- i am at this very moment researching thyroid meds as i have a lot to learn about this....

*anyways- i thought i'd share that you should get your thyroid tested as soon as you can get in- just a simple blood test to make sure it is running correctly- gluten & gluten intolerance can negatively affect your thyroid- AND your thyroid can affect your pregnancy- dont be alarmed, as my mother was diagnosed with hypothyroid while pregnant with my sister... she spotted in her 1st & 2nd trimester but successfully gave birth to my beautiful healthy sister (well, except for those DQ genes our parents have passed on to us <_< )... but- i do think you should get that checked soon-

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Hi there. You cannot interpret laboratory results without the normal ranges provided by the lab. As Cass says, your total IgA seems low, which means the TTG-IgA is less accurate. You might need the IgG versions of the tests. Can you get a referral to a doctor who is more experienced at doing the celiac blood tests?

You could just go off gluten for safety. Even if you're not celiac now, there is a reasonable chance of you developing it later if you keep eating a lot of wheat.

Momma Ta Newbie
Momma Ta
Posted
  • Author

Thank you all for your help! I decided last night after losing hours of much needed sleep that it will just be better for me to go Gluten Free. Heck, hopefully it will help with this HORRIBLE heartburn!

This is what my doctor sent back about the normal ranges:

for Transglutaminase antibody less than 20

for IGA between 70 and 400. Your antibody is slighly low but I doubt of clinical significance. Lets recheck the parameters in one year

So - to be safe I will be gluten-free...this little one was a HUGE surprise, but still very much wanted - not going to do anything to jeopardize him/her.

I made a loaf of Pamela's Bread Mix bread today - YUMMY! I am a bread fiend - I love toast, so this is one gluten-free food I am going to have to get. The cookies, I can live without. I tried a breakfast bar, and I find them too sweet. Loving the pretzel sticks - great for morning (actually evening) sickness. Should I worry too much about the "carmel color" in the gingerale? B/c I desperately need that to settle my stomach...

Thanks again for your input!

~Tara

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

So you are definitely low IgA. As your doctor says, it's not clinically significant, but it means you cannot ever have a high result on a celiac panel even if you're celiac. Also there is an association between low IgA and celiac. If you want accurate tests you'll have to go back to your doctor for anti-TTG IgG and the new anti-deamidated gliadin peptide IgG if you can get it. If your doctor thinks about it a moment, he'll understand that low total IgA would make all IgA tests come out falsely low and it's well documented in the scientific literature. You might want to do this before you go gluten-free.

I'm really glad you like the Pamela's. No, don't worry about carmel color in the US. It is made from corn. In the unusual case of carmel color made from wheat starch it would have to be declared as wheat on the label.

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