Help! With Celiac Panel Results

[daisymae106]

Hello! I am new to this community and need help figuring out my bloodwork. My GI said that because of my high ttg levels I may have celiac disease and will follow up with intestinal biopsies during my endoscopy scheduled for early July. I know that high ttg levels are a marker for celiac, but I am wondering what the other results of the panel mean in relationship with the ttg. I hope that makes sense. Here are my celiac panel results:

IgA: Sufficient

Gliadin IgA Ab: 8

Tis.Transglut.Ab IgA: 75

(Positive is indicated as >30)

That is all my test results are telling me and I am trying to figure out if I can be celiac if my IgA and Gliadin IgA Ab numbers seem to be in the normal range, yet my ttg numbers are 75. Thanks for your help!

[cassP]

  On 5/26/2011 at 3:10 PM, daisymae106 said:

Hello! I am new to this community and need help figuring out my bloodwork. My GI said that because of my high ttg levels I may have celiac disease and will follow up with intestinal biopsies during my endoscopy scheduled for early July. I know that high ttg levels are a marker for celiac, but I am wondering what the other results of the panel mean in relationship with the ttg. I hope that makes sense. Here are my celiac panel results:

IgA: Sufficient

Gliadin IgA Ab: 8

Tis.Transglut.Ab IgA: 75

(Positive is indicated as >30)

That is all my test results are telling me and I am trying to figure out if I can be celiac if my IgA and Gliadin IgA Ab numbers seem to be in the normal range, yet my ttg numbers are 75. Thanks for your help!

your way positive ttg suggests celiac. you do not have to be positive on all your tests. the Iga serum result is "sufficient". this only means that your immune system is working and making adequate amounts of Iga- so that your antibody tests should all be accurrate.

dont know if im right on this- but ive read on this forum before a theory that made sense to me: that the Antigliadin antibodies were abs that your body makes to attack the gliadin (gluten)... and that the TTG abs were abs your body makes that attacks your tissue.

[daisymae106]

  On 5/26/2011 at 4:05 PM, cassP said:

your way positive ttg suggests celiac. you do not have to be positive on all your tests. the Iga serum result is "sufficient". this only means that your immune system is working and making adequate amounts of Iga- so that your antibody tests should all be accurrate.

dont know if im right on this- but ive read on this forum before a theory that made sense to me: that the Antigliadin antibodies were abs that your body makes to attack the gliadin (gluten)... and that the TTG abs were abs your body makes that attacks your tissue.

Thank you SO much for your quick response! I have been researching TTG and it does appear that high TTG levels are all that is needed to suggest celiac, regardless of the other numbers. I am trying not to go nuts over it as I have to wait 6 weeks before my endoscopy. LOL Hopefully the endoscopy biopsy results will not take long to come back. I hate continuing to eat gluten if that is what is causing my problems, but I also realize I have to stay on gluten to ensure accurate biopsy results. FYI, aloe vera juice has reduced my symptoms GREATLY which has been a relief while I am waiting. Thanks again and I would appreciate anyone else's comments.

[daisymae106]

One more thing.... does Tis.Transglut.Ab IgA mean the TOTAL IgA? I had seen that you need a total when dealing with this panel. I wasn't sure if my number of 75 was just my TTG, or my totals?

[ravenwoodglass]

  On 5/26/2011 at 4:14 PM, daisymae106 said:

Thank you SO much for your quick response! I have been researching TTG and it does appear that high TTG levels are all that is needed to suggest celiac, regardless of the other numbers. I am trying not to go nuts over it as I have to wait 6 weeks before my endoscopy. LOL Hopefully the endoscopy biopsy results will not take long to come back. I hate continuing to eat gluten if that is what is causing my problems, but I also realize I have to stay on gluten to ensure accurate biopsy results. FYI, aloe vera juice has reduced my symptoms GREATLY which has been a relief while I am waiting. Thanks again and I would appreciate anyone else's comments.

It is good you are continueing on gluten until the biopsy is done. Do be aware that there can be pretty high rates of false negatives with biopsy so the day the biopsy is done go ahead and get on the diet strictly. Your body may give you the answer before the biopsy results even come in.

[daisymae106]

Thank you so much! That is great advice. I will definitely try that!

[cassP]

  On 5/26/2011 at 5:01 PM, daisymae106 said:

One more thing.... does Tis.Transglut.Ab IgA mean the TOTAL IgA? I had seen that you need a total when dealing with this panel. I wasn't sure if my number of 75 was just my TTG, or my totals?

your TTG Iga is your TTG iga antibodies.

your "sufficient" Iga is your "total Iga serum" (im assuming).

[RL2011]

  On 6/1/2011 at 5:16 AM, cassP said:

your TTG Iga is your TTG iga antibodies.

your "sufficient" Iga is your "total Iga serum" (im assuming).

I do not understand why a biopsy is needed when this individual shows positive for celiac disease. I ask this because I have been suffering digestive issues for my entire life that are consistent with gluten intolerance. I also had a rash last year for 4 months that I now believe is/was dermatitis herpetiformis. A few weeks ago I was (blood) tested and it came back positive for Celiac Disease. I do not have a copy of the test with me at this moment to provide my numbers and I wonder now is it really important to have a biopsy done to further confirm celiac disease or not.

Trying to understand what to do next...

[sb2178]

There are a few reasons to do a biopsy:

1) confirming it is actually celiac (TTG and AGA can be elevated in Crohn's, possibly other IBD)

2) establishing a baseline assessment of damage (in case patient doesn't respond to treatment or later problems appear)

3) bureaucracy. schools, hospitals, insurance companies, tax folks may require a biopsy-confirmed diagnosis to approve tax breaks, further routine testing like bone scans, safe accomadataions, etc.

4) persuasion of old school med community. getting family members tested or dealing with future docs is sometime facilitated by having a biopsy.

Reasons not to have a biopsy:

1) can be pricey

2) it is somewhat invasive

3) blood tests, when positive, are pretty specific to celiac disease. you can always do further testing if you do not respond to the diet.

4) positive biopsies diagnose very, very sick people. if you aren't that sick yet, your biopsy may be negative, and you may be told to eat gluten despite "latent" celiac disease.

[RL2011]

  On 6/2/2011 at 12:19 AM, sb2178 said:

There are a few reasons to do a biopsy:

1) confirming it is actually celiac (TTG and AGA can be elevated in Crohn's, possibly other IBD)

2) establishing a baseline assessment of damage (in case patient doesn't respond to treatment or later problems appear)

3) bureaucracy. schools, hospitals, insurance companies, tax folks may require a biopsy-confirmed diagnosis to approve tax breaks, further routine testing like bone scans, safe accomadataions, etc.

4) persuasion of old school med community. getting family members tested or dealing with future docs is sometime facilitated by having a biopsy.

Reasons not to have a biopsy:

1) can be pricey

2) it is somewhat invasive

3) blood tests, when positive, are pretty specific to celiac disease. you can always do further testing if you do not respond to the diet.

4) positive biopsies diagnose very, very sick people. if you aren't that sick yet, your biopsy may be negative, and you may be told to eat gluten despite "latent" celiac disease.

Thank you for your feedback. I will talk with my Dr about the merits of scheduling a biopsy and his recommendation.

[daisymae106]

Hello everyone! I am updating from my previous post. I had my endoscopy yesterday! The procedure was surprisingly EASY and not to be dreaded in case any of you have to get one. My endoscopy looked normal but the doc still took several biopsies to send off of my small intestine so they can check for celiac damage. I am slightly confused because he said that my elevated ttg levels (75) were not necessarily a marker for celiac. I thought that was the marker that was 90% accurate? My celiac panel results are above for reference. Anyway, I have to wait a week to find out the results. I was almost positive I have celiac based on my symptoms, but now I am not so sure. I am almost hoping I am just so I can get to the bottom of my GI problems. Anyway, any input would be helpful. I just need to know if my blood test shows I may have celiac, or if the elevated ttg is just a flag of something, not necessarily celiac. Thanks everyone and good luck to all of you in your celiac journey.

[ravenwoodglass]

  On 7/7/2011 at 4:51 PM, daisymae106 said:

Hello everyone! I am updating from my previous post. I had my endoscopy yesterday! The procedure was surprisingly EASY and not to be dreaded in case any of you have to get one. My endoscopy looked normal but the doc still took several biopsies to send off of my small intestine so they can check for celiac damage. I am slightly confused because he said that my elevated ttg levels (75) were not necessarily a marker for celiac. I thought that was the marker that was 90% accurate? My celiac panel results are above for reference. Anyway, I have to wait a week to find out the results. I was almost positive I have celiac based on my symptoms, but now I am not so sure. I am almost hoping I am just so I can get to the bottom of my GI problems. Anyway, any input would be helpful. I just need to know if my blood test shows I may have celiac, or if the elevated ttg is just a flag of something, not necessarily celiac. Thanks everyone and good luck to all of you in your celiac journey.

Now you can start a strict trial of the diet you don't need to wait on the biopsy results. Your body may give you the answer before the results are even in. Also keep in mind there is a 20 to 30% false negative rate. The high ttg is usually celiac although in rare instances it can be from something else but your being gluten free is not going to prevent them from testing for other problems.

[nora-n]

the ttg test can be elevated with some other forms of cell damage, the ttg is a marker of cell damage.

[cassP]

  On 6/1/2011 at 5:31 PM, RL2011 said:

I do not understand why a biopsy is needed when this individual shows positive for celiac disease. I ask this because I have been suffering digestive issues for my entire life that are consistent with gluten intolerance. I also had a rash last year for 4 months that I now believe is/was dermatitis herpetiformis. A few weeks ago I was (blood) tested and it came back positive for Celiac Disease. I do not have a copy of the test with me at this moment to provide my numbers and I wonder now is it really important to have a biopsy done to further confirm celiac disease or not.

Trying to understand what to do next...

i dont think u need a biopsy to prove it. many doctors will not believe it without a positive biopsy... but why let your body get to that much damage just to "prove" it. i have never had the biopsy, cause my insurance company wouldnt help cover it. i had a semi positive blood test, a positive gene test, and DH. that's enough for me. good luck with your journey

[daisymae106]

I can't thank you all enough for replying to my post! I will definitely let you all know what my biopsy results are! This forum has been so helpful. Thanks again!!!

[daisymae106]

Hello everyone! Here is the update from my endoscopy results. The doctor called me tonight and said he DOES think I have celiac disease. He said he can't say 100% but based on some abnormalities on my biopsies along with my high ttg in the bloodwork, he thinks I have it. He urged me to make sure my children get a blood test, as well as my parents and brother. I was a little overwhelmed, but mainly relieved to get some answers!! Thanks for all of your input on my post. I wish everyone the best in their celiac journey!

[joyw4]

I could use your help too. Just got a copy of my results. My family doctor says its definitely celiac sent me to a nutritionist but my GI doc wants a biopsy. So here it is.

My tTG was 3 negative

My IGA is 13 equivocal

My IGG is 100 positive

Help!

I've been gluten free for a week. I guess I started to feel better but my GI doc said to go back on gluten till the biopsy and I'm sick as a dog today! What to do? Don't know if I should even bother with the biopsy. My dad has celiac too. Diagnosed with a biopsy.

Thanks!

[ravenwoodglass]

  On 7/23/2011 at 5:30 PM, joyw4 said:

I could use your help too. Just got a copy of my results. My family doctor says its definitely celiac sent me to a nutritionist but my GI doc wants a biopsy. So here it is.

My tTG was 3 negative

My IGA is 13 equivocal

My IGG is 100 positive

Help!

I've been gluten free for a week. I guess I started to feel better but my GI doc said to go back on gluten till the biopsy and I'm sick as a dog today! What to do? Don't know if I should even bother with the biopsy. My dad has celiac too. Diagnosed with a biopsy.

Thanks!

It is entirely up to you whether you want to have the biopsy done or not. With a family history and positive blood tests and a reoccurance of your issues on the reintroduction of gluten you really have a 'diagnosis'.