Newbie With Lab Results And Questions

[brbangl3]

Hello! My apologies in advance if I am posting this under the wrong category... I just joined this message board today after receiving some concerning lab results from my doctor's office regarding my self-requested Celiac panel. (Sadly, I received these lab results without an appointment with my doctor to discuss them.) I am seeking some insight and feedback on the results, as I am currently in a panic state thinking the worst possible outcome until I can discuss it with my doctor during my follow-up appointment next week.

A brief background: I am 30 y/o and have been treated for Hashimoto's hypothyroidism since my early 20's. Just a few weeks ago, after years of never feeling quite "optimized" with my thyroid, I decided to investigate beyond thyroid dysfunction for the source of some longstanding ailments

[brbangl3]

Does anyone have any advice on these results and/or how to proceed? I'm finding limited info online and going slightly crazy as a result.

Thanks!

[ravenwoodglass]

The Deamidated Gliadin Abs is the newest and best test for celiac. With your results being as high as they are it is pretty likely, from what I understand, that you are in the right place. This is not as bad a news as you might think as the diet will likely relieve a lot of the issues you are having. The diet can be a bit daunting at first but it is very doable. If you are going to choose to have an endoscopsy with biopsies do not go gluten free quite yet, wait until the day of the endo. Do realize there are pretty high rates of false negatives both with the biopsies and the blood tests so when all testing you choose to do is done then do the diet strictly. Chances are you will be feeling much better before long.

[beachbirdie]

I posted these results on another message board, and also had a phone conversation with a doctor-friend of mine

[sue1234]

I'm in the same exact boat as you. I have normal or negative everything, EXCEPT my deam. anti-gliadin at 45.4(0-10). Mine is really high also, but was told I didn't have celiac. I'm not too sure. What other reason would make that so high?

[Bubba's Mom]

The blood tests don't always tell the true story. Mine came back in the normal range, but the Dr scheduled an endoscope/with biopsy anyway. The scope is the "gold standard" of testing, if you have been eating gluten. Mine came back very definitely positive with severe damage evident.

Don't just rely on the blood work..push for more answers.

[sue1234]

In my case, I had the biopsies and they were negative. So, I am left to wonder what the high anti-gliadin means.

[nora-n]

now it looks like the deaminated gliadin test can pick up early celiac, or patchy celiac.

The old ttg test is not so good at picking up patchy celiac.

The newest endoscopy method is the pill cam, and it finds patchy celiac, while the old-fashioned biopsy method easily can miss the patches.

(the most common form of celiac is patchy celiac)

[brbangl3]

Thanks to all for your invaluable and supportive replies! I have been eating gluten-free per doctor's order since July, when I started this thread with the results of my Celiac panel. I haven't noticed much of a difference in my overall health, much to my disappointment; and, when I do slip and eat gluten, I don't report any adverse reactions besides maybe some fatigue.

I received my follow-up Celiac panel lab results today, which show similar readings to the ones from May:

Deamidated Gliadin Peptide Antibody, IgA: 35.0 (Reference Range: < 6.1)

Deamidated Gliadin Peptide Antibody, IgG: 0.6 (< 4.9)

Anti-human Tissue Transglutaminase IgA: 0.3 (< 10.3)

Anti-Endomysial IgA IFA: Negative

Total Serum IgA: 208 mg/dL (Range: 44-441)

I'm still curious to know what all this means, and how to proceed. The doctor who performed this follow-up Celiac panel is not the same one who performed the initial one back in May. And, whereas my first doctor (in May) did not diagnose Celiac Disease following my results, my new doctor who performed and interpreted these new results immediately diagnosed me with Celiac Disease. Who to believe?

Thank you!