What To Do, What To Do?

[TPT]

Received my blood work and biopsy results. Doctor considered everything negative. Please note that this is a resident Dermatologist, that had to consult a gastro to decipher my results. I have no issue with that. Just pointing out she's not an expert in the non-skin results.

Deamdated Gliadin Iga~ 2 units. This is in the negative range of 0-19.

Deamidated Gliadin IgG~ 2 untits within the negative range of 0-19.

Endomysial Antibody Iga~ negative

transglutaminase ttg IgA~ <2 in a negative range of 0-3.

T-transglutmanase ttg Iga~9 U/ml This is a weak positve 6-9. (almost a positive)

I hope I copied this all right. The lab report is confusing. Any thoughts, specifically what I have in red?

[Jestgar]

What's your total IgA result?

[TPT]

What's your total IgA result?

NO clue!!! The report seems so jumbled to me. Maybe I can scan and post it?

[rosetapper23]

Okay, for one thing, your dermatologist has no business running blood tests that she doesn't know how to decipher. Secondly, if she doesn't know anything about celiac, are you sure that she performed your skin biopsy properly? She should have taken the biopsy from a patch of skin NEAR a blister, not ON the blister. Do you know if she did this? If not, she needs to re-do the biopsy (and NOT charge you if you don't have insurance). If she biopsied a lesion/blister directly, it comes back negative. If she doesn't agree to re-do the biopsy, please see another dermatologist.

[cassP]

NO clue!!! The report seems so jumbled to me. Maybe I can scan and post it?

did u possibly mistype your results post? cause both ttg results u posted as Iga... might one of them be Igg ??

and yes- like said above- you need to ask your doc for a "Total Iga Serum" test- this would give u an insight as to whether your iga test are innacurately false for antigliadin and innacurately weak positive for ttg.

[TPT]

I won't fault her for ordering the tests. I went to see her because I had rashes. 1 was new on my face, plus reoccuring rashes all over for 8 years. After putting some other info together, we decided to test for celiac. I wasn't initially going there because I thought I had celiac disease.

I will look at my report again and see if I made a typo. Also, is there a way I can put it in my post? I guess I would have to put it on photobucket or something?

[TPT]

I won't fault her for ordering the tests. I went to see her because I had rashes. 1 was new on my face, plus reoccuring rashes all over for 8 years. After putting some other info together, we decided to test for celiac. I wasn't initially going there because I thought I had celiac disease.

I will look at my report again and see if I made a typo. Also, is there a way I can put it in my post? I guess I would have to put it on photobucket or something?

She did a biopsy on both the rash AND next to it. She said I am reacting to something. I forget if I already said I am going in for a patch test next month.

Aside from my possible celiac disease symptoms, I am a candidate for celiac disease. I already have an autoimmune disease called lichen sclerosis. My brother has a gene for celiac disease, and is currently going through similiar inconclusive testing like me.

[TPT]

Received my blood work and biopsy results. Doctor considered everything negative. Please note that this is a resident Dermatologist, that had to consult a gastro to decipher my results. I have no issue with that. Just pointing out she's not an expert in the non-skin results.

Deamdated Gliadin Iga~ 2 units. This is in the negative range of 0-19.

Deamidated Gliadin IgG~ 2 untits within the negative range of 0-19.

Endomysial Antibody Iga~ negative

transglutaminase ttg IgA~ <2 in a negative range of 0-3.

T-transglutmanase ttg Iga~9 U/ml This is a weak positve 6-9. (almost a positive)

I hope I copied this all right. The lab report is confusing. Any thoughts, specifically what I have in red?

[TPT]

T-transglutmanase ttg IgG~9 U/ml This is a weak positve 6-9. (almost a positive)

You were right, it is IGg. I copied it wrong.

[ravenwoodglass]

I won't fault her for ordering the tests. I went to see her because I had rashes. 1 was new on my face, plus reoccuring rashes all over for 8 years. After putting some other info together, we decided to test for celiac. I wasn't initially going there because I thought I had celiac disease.

I wouldn't fault her either. In fact I would commend her for it. Pretty savvy resident IMHO.

[cassP]

T-transglutmanase ttg IgG~9 U/ml This is a weak positve 6-9. (almost a positive)

You were right, it is IGg. I copied it wrong.

ahh... then u should def get an Iga serum level test- looks like you could be a person with Gluten Intolerance or Celiac with an Iga deficiency.

and even if your hives are allergic hives and not DH. they could be due to a wheat allergy in addition to your gluten intolerance.

good luck with everything

[SGWhiskers]

I agree, get the total IGA Serum test, but once that blood is drawn, start on a strict gluten free diet for 3 months. Pay attention to the cross contamination. It really does make one as sick as eating a slice of bread. With your autoimmune history and your brother's possible celiac, you wouldn't be doing yoursef any favors by skipping the diet because of weak positive results. Some would argue a positive is a positive, no matter how weak. I'll just add that so many people here have found relief after giving up gluten even when they had negative blood results. It seems that while our blood work has gotten so much better, there is a group of people who are either celiac and the current blood tests don't pick up on it or who are gluten intolerant to the point of misery without a strict gluten-free diet.

You've got nothing to lose with a 3 month gluten-free trial, so go for it. Then reintroduce the gluten heavily and see what happens.

Best wishes and be strict and consistent.

[TPT]

I agree, get the total IGA Serum test, but once that blood is drawn, start on a strict gluten free diet for 3 months. Pay attention to the cross contamination. It really does make one as sick as eating a slice of bread. With your autoimmune history and your brother's possible celiac, you wouldn't be doing yoursef any favors by skipping the diet because of weak positive results. Some would argue a positive is a positive, no matter how weak. I'll just add that so many people here have found relief after giving up gluten even when they had negative blood results. It seems that while our blood work has gotten so much better, there is a group of people who are either celiac and the current blood tests don't pick up on it or who are gluten intolerant to the point of misery without a strict gluten-free diet.

You've got nothing to lose with a 3 month gluten-free trial, so go for it. Then reintroduce the gluten heavily and see what happens.

Best wishes and be strict and consistent.

What is a total IGa serum test? Is it not part of the typical protocol? Being a derm. resident, she did look up what tests had to be ordered, so she could have missed something. Again, not faulting her. This isn't her area. Infact, when I faxed my info to my GP, he wouldn't comment on my bloodwork at all, saying it wasn't his area. And he's a seasoned doctor that does all kinds of research.

[Jestgar]

Some people are IgA deficient, which means that any IgA tests may be falsely negative.

[TPT]

So does a elevated ttg IGg indicate SOMETHING, or could it be high for no reason?

[cassP]

What is a total IGa serum test? Is it not part of the typical protocol? Being a derm. resident, she did look up what tests had to be ordered, so she could have missed something. Again, not faulting her. This isn't her area. Infact, when I faxed my info to my GP, he wouldn't comment on my bloodwork at all, saying it wasn't his area. And he's a seasoned doctor that does all kinds of research.

for a Derm, she did pretty well- she also ordered the Endomysial Antibody test i see- which my Gi didnt even order!!!! my GP ordered it.

total Iga isnt neccessarily part of the routine Celiac test- but it will help you and your doc read your celiac tests better. Iga is something your immune system makes-