Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Test Results Help?


plumbago

Recommended Posts

plumbago Experienced

Hello everyone,

For those experts at understanding test results, I would appreciate any feedback! (Why the doctor meets with you when GIVING the blood test, but not when receiving the results is beyond me.)

Going down the list, I seemed to be doing fine until I got to the gliadin peptide Ab, IgA.

Tissue Transglutaminase AB, IgA (tTG Ab, IgA): 13.2 - reference range, less than 20, so this is within range

Gliadin Peptide Antibodies, IgG, : 11.1 - reference range, less than 20 so this is within range

Gliadin Peptide Ab, IgA : 40 - reference range, less than 20, so this is NOT within range.

Might anyone know what this means? I typed the three tests pretty much word for word.

Also, my hemoglobin was out of range, low (11.5), and so was my MCHC (Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration), also low (29.9).

I've been gluten free (with a diagnosis of celiac disease) for just over a year.

Thank you.

Plumbago


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



sb2178 Enthusiast

Well, the antigliadin IGA (aka AGA IGA) means you are still being exposed somewhat. Eating out, shared kitchen, toiletries, prepared/packaged foods...

Unless there are bits of gluten entering your intestines, that wouldn't normally show up. However, if you had very high positive tests one year ago, that could be slow coming back to normal. Typically, you expect to see normal or near normal levels after a year except when the diagnosis tests showed very high values. Do you have your previous test values?

The anemia also indicates that you probably have some malabsorption going on, so possibly still active celiac disease. I'd get stricter with the diet and schedule repeat tests in 3 or 6 months.

BTW, I've taken to asking to have to bloodwork done first and then the appointment. It confuses the office staff a bit and you usually have to persuade a nurse to order the tests, but it generally works better in terms of actually discussing results. If you're far from the lab, that could be pain but I'm close.

plumbago Experienced

Well, the antigliadin IGA (aka AGA IGA) means you are still being exposed somewhat. Eating out, shared kitchen, toiletries, prepared/packaged foods...

Unless there are bits of gluten entering your intestines, that wouldn't normally show up. However, if you had very high positive tests one year ago, that could be slow coming back to normal. Typically, you expect to see normal or near normal levels after a year except when the diagnosis tests showed very high values. Do you have your previous test values?

The anemia also indicates that you probably have some malabsorption going on, so possibly still active celiac disease. I'd get stricter with the diet and schedule repeat tests in 3 or 6 months.

BTW, I've taken to asking to have to bloodwork done first and then the appointment. It confuses the office staff a bit and you usually have to persuade a nurse to order the tests, but it generally works better in terms of actually discussing results. If you're far from the lab, that could be pain but I'm close.

The thing is, I'm not sure I'm comparing apples to apples. Meaning, the previous blood work I had done was in October 2010, and at that time, the test I had done (one of 4) was "deamidated gliadin abs, iga." It was not the "gliadin peptide ab, iga." I'm not sure if that's the exact same or not.

In October 2010, the deamidated gliadin abs, iga was "normal" - 11. And the range was 0-19.

Another question on my most recent test, in light of your answer (thank you very much!) is what of the other two tests from this last time? That is to say the tTg Ab, IgA, and the Gliadin Peptide AB, IgG both of which were normal? Can I take that as a sign of progress?

Oh, and YES - the blood work I had pre-diagnosis, EVERYthing was high.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - trents replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

    2. - catnapt posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

    3. - trents replied to McKinleyWY's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      4

      Accuracy of testing concerns

    4. - Theresa2407 replied to chrish42's topic in Doctors
      4

      Doctors and Celiac.com

    5. - Scott Adams replied to suek54's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      4

      Awaiting dermatitis herpetiformis confirmation following biopsy

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,255
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Christie Fassel
    Newest Member
    Christie Fassel
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):
  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for a significant amount of time. It's called the "gluten challenge".  Yes, you can develop celiac disease at any stage of life. There is a genetic component but also a stress trigger that is needed to activate the celiac genes. About 30-40% of the general population possesses the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% of the general population actually develop celiac disease. For most with the potential, the triggering stress event doesn't happen. It can be many things but often it is a viral infection. Having said that, it is also the case that many, many people who eventually are diagnosed with celiac disease probably experienced the actual onset years before. Many celiacs are of the "silent" type, meaning that symptoms are largely missing or very minor and get overlooked until damage to the small bowel lining becomes advanced or they develop iron deficiency anemia or some other medical problem associated with celiac disease. Many, many are never diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life because they did not experience classic symptoms. And many physicians are only looking for classic symptoms. We now know that there are over 200 symptoms/medical problems associated with celiac disease but many docs are only looking for things like boating, gas, diarrhea. I certainly understand your concerns about not wanting to damage your body by taking on a gluten challenge. Your other option is to totally commit to gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. It can take two years or more for complete healing of the small bowel lining once going gluten free but usually people experience significant improvement well before then. If their is significant improvement in your symptoms when going seriously gluten free, then you likely have your answer. You would either have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity).
    • catnapt
      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I attributed it to other things like bread spiking blood sugar- or to the things I ate *with* the bread or crackers etc   I went to a party in Nov and ate a LOT of a vegan roast made with vital wheat gluten- as well as stuffing, rolls and pie crust... and OMG I was so sick! the pain, the bloating, the gas, the nausea... I didn't think it would ever end (but it did) and I was ready to go the ER but it finally subsided.   I mentioned this to my endo and now she wants me to be tested for celiac after 2 weeks of being on gluten foods. She has kind of flip flopped on how much gluten I should eat, telling me that if the symptoms are severe I can stop. I am eating 2-3 thin slices of bread per day (or english muffins) and wow- it does make me feel awful. But not as bad as when I ate that massive amnt of vital wheat gluten. so I will continue on if I have to... but what bothers me is - if it IS celiac, it seems stupid for lack of a better word, to intentionally cause more damage to my body... but I am also worried, on the other hand, that this is not a long enough challenge to make the blood work results valid.   can you give me any insight into this please?   thank you
    • trents
      The biopsy looks for damage to the mucosal lining of the small bowel from the inflammation caused by celiac disease when gluten is ingested. Once you remove gluten from the diet, inflammation subsides and the mucosal lining begins to heal. 
    • Theresa2407
      Our support groups in Iowa have tried for years to educate doctors and resource sites like this one.  We have held yearly conferences with continued education classes.   We have brought in Dr. Murray, Dr. Fasano, Dr. Green and Dr. elliott.  In those many years we may have had 2 doctors attend.  We sent them information, with no response.  I talked to my personal doctor and she said their training for Celiac was to show them a skinny man in boxer shorts and a huge stomach.  Saying if you see this, it is Celiac.  If it isn't in their playbook then they don't care.  Most call it an allergy with no mention of our immune system.  There is so much false information on the internet.  Then people don't understand why they can't get well and are acquiring more immune diseases. I mention this site to everyone.  Scott has working hard for the Celiac community.
    • Scott Adams
      If you have DH you will likely also want to avoid iodine, which is common in seafoods and dairy products, as it can exacerbate symptoms in some people. This article may also be helpful as it offers various ways to relieve the itch:  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.