Testing Question

[Marc49]

Here is a brief history of what led me to sign up here.

Several months ago I started seeing a new doc that is into 'functional medicine' per se. He is actually an OB/GYN medically though. I was referred by my regular doc due to some vague issues I have been having for the past year.

New doc had me do a stool profile by a company called Metametrix that supposedly looks at almost everything.

Anyway, some section of that test has a test for gluten anti-bodies I think and it showed as 'borderline' per se. Not positive or negative,.....borderline.

After that he had me do a gene test through EnteroLab in Texas. I received the results back on 1/19 and it shows I carry one celiac gene, and one non-celiac gene that is predisposing to gluten sensitivity. I can post the results here if anyone is familiar with this testing.

I have had issues with GERD for over 5 years, and also have been diagnosed with the generic GI disease of IBS due to my ever changing stomach issues. I am a 49 YO male BTW.

I had an endoscopy right before I started nexium for Gerd,.....they were looking for Barret's I believe and that was negative. I do not believe that they checked me for anything to do with celiac disease at the time though. Nothing was said about any problems though other than the GERD.

Long story short,........my question is should I have any type of blood test done to confirm/deny whether the problem is active in me since I carry the gene, or do you go from the gene test alone?

I am in the process of learning about the foods to eat, but have not started on a 100% path as of now. I have reduced some easy targets, but I am not gluten free by any stretch.

While going gluten-free doesn't appear to be that big of a deal to me, I obviously would prefer to not have to bother unless it is needed.

I figure that if I should have further testing done, I should do it while still eating my normal diet.

Thanks for any advice!

[Mari]

Please do post your Enterolab results. I also used Enterolab, my two b allele markers are 0302 and 602. Drs are more familiar with the molecular serology terms so these translate to HLA-DQ8 and HLA-DQ6. DQ8 indicates a main celiac gene and DQ6 confers a predisposition to non-celiac sprue also called Leaky Gut Syndrome. Both of these conditions are gluten sensitivities.

Wikipedia has some good articles - search for HLA-DQ for an overview. The Enterolab report gives the DNA HLA assay results - the marker/gene number.

Below that are the results changed to the molecular serology terms. Look at the numbers in parenthesis, mine were (8, 6). You can then search WiKipenia for HLA- your number and HLA-the other number.

Any degree of positive is considered postive but a negative result does not rule out celiac disease. Many Drs would have you go on a gluten challange diet for up to 3 months to raise the antibody level before doing the blood tests for celiac disease. Also they would order a total immunoglobulin A level to make sure you have enough IgA to make the test valid. Some Drs would do another endoscopic exam with multiple biopsies to see if you have flattened villi or other damage to the small intestine.

Even if you show no intestinal damage by the blood tests or biopsies most experts would advise you to go gluten free. If the autoimmune reaction is not causing you symptoms there is evidence that you may develop more serious problems in the future and it may reduce your risk for some types of cancers.

Hope this is not too confusing.

[Marc49]

This was my result:

Gluten Sensitivity Gene Test

HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 1 0302

HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 2 0502

Serologic equivalent: HLA-DQ 3,1 (Subtype 8,5)

Interpretation Of HLA-DQ Testing: HLA-DQB1 gene analysis reveals that you have one of the main genes that predisposes to gluten sensitivity and celiac sprue, HLA-DQB1*0201 or HLA-DQB1*0302. Each of your offspring has a 50% chance of receiving this gene from you, and at least one of your parents passed it to you. You also have a non-celiac gene predisposing to gluten sensitivity (any DQ1, DQ2 not by HLA-DQB1*0201, or DQ3 not by HLA-DQB1*0302). Having one celiac gene and one gluten sensitive gene, means that each of your parents, and all of your children (if you have them) will possess at least one copy of a gluten sensitive gene. Having two copies also means there is an even stronger predisposition to gluten sensitivity than having one gene and the resultant immunologic gluten sensitivity or celiac disease may be more severe. This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by the American Red Cross - Northeast Division. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

For more information about result interpretation, please see Open Original Shared Link

Stool analysis performed and/or supervised by: Frederick Ogunji, Ph.D., EnteroLab

Molecular Gene Analysis performed by: American Red Cross

Interpretation of all results by: Kenneth D. Fine, M.D., EnteroLab

I am glad you saw this as I don't really know about the subtypes,.....maybe you can chime in on my resluts when you get a chance!

Thanks.