Only Anti-gliadin Antibodies?

[Searcher]

Hi all, I am new here. I have been going through much of what many of you seem to have gone through. Many years of half-answers that lead to more questions. I have an appt with a gastro next week and wanted to get your opinions before I go.

My symptoms vary from weakness, bowel problems, anxiety/depression, poor memory, raynaud's, vision, gerd, etc. The only lab results that have ever come back positive are the ANA, Rheumatoid Factor, and Anti-Gliadin antibodies. When the Anti-Gliadin came back (IGG was 38, IGA negative), they retested (IGG was 68 and IGA was 21). They apparently don't do anti-endomysial anymore and instead did a tranglutaminase that was negative. With my symptoms, a biopsy was done (a few years ago) and that was negative.

So here I am years later still with the same symptoms and trying again with another gastro. I was hoping for some advice or ideas. Doesn't the fact that some of the results I got were high must mean something even though not all the tests or biopsy were positve?

[steve-o]

I'm in the same boat you're in....high Anti-Gliadin, but all other tests negative.

I've been looking high and low for a concrete answer, but still don't have one. Everything I've read or heard, says that anti-gliadin alone doesn't indicate celiac disease.

Some sources say it means you "might" have a gluten intolerance, but it may also mean nothing. Something like 25% of the general population has elevated anti-gliadin antibodies, so doctors generally don't believe it indicates anything. Of course, this begs the question; why bother doing this test? I've yet to hear an answer for this either.

Anyhow, in the end, your best bet is to just listen to your body. Try going on a strict gluten free diet for a few months, and see if you feel better, or if your symptoms disappear. This should give you a good indication of whether or not your body is reacting to gluten.

Good luck,

Steve

[KaitiUSA]

Some sources say it means you "might" have a gluten intolerance, but it may also mean nothing. Something like 25% of the general population has elevated anti-gliadin antibodies, so doctors generally don't believe it indicates anything. Of course, this begs the question; why bother doing this test? I've yet to hear an answer for this either.

Usually the antibodies alone detect a reaction to gluten. They are not usually enough to diagnose you though...they usually use a full panel with other tests as well...but if just those show up that can mean it is just starting to activate in your body. It's not a useless test to have done it is just not usually sufficient for a diagnosis alone.

I would definitely investigate further though because there is obviously some reaction your body has to gluten.

25% of the population do not have elevated antibodies to my understanding. about 25-30% have the celiac gene but do not necessarily have celiac activated(they are just predisposed)

[Searcher]

Thanks for the advice. If the anti-gliadin antibodies can represent other things, does anybody know what the other possibilities are?

[skbird]

Hi Searcher -

I'm curious about your ANA, Rh factor, Raynauds, etc. I was diagnosed several years back as having Raynauds which went away after about 4 years. Recently, my doc was trying to screen me for any other autoimmune stuff and found I had a positive ANA (1:320) and a nucleolar pattern. My Rh factor was negative. At about the time of the test my hands started flaring up again. As a result I am going on Friday to see a rheumatologist.

Have you gotten any info about your test results in these areas? Have you been diagnosed with a connective tissue disease? I'm wondering what I"m going to find out on Friday, if anything.

I have been gluten free since last October so it's not gluten that is firing up my system (though the lack of gluten could be keeping it from being worse).

Thanks for any info.

Stephanie

[Searcher]

The raynaud's showed up first by itself about 6 years ago. The ANA came back 1:320 /1:640 nucleolar. The rf came back back pretty high at one point later. Nobody came up with anything definitive after that because all other tests they did were negative. The anti-gliadin was the only other thing that came back positive. Skbird-your raynaud's just went away on its own?