Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • 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

Lab Results Are So Confusing!

21daisygurl

Recommended Posts

21daisygurl Newbie
21daisygurl
Posted

I am SO glad I found this forum!

I have had gastro issues my whole life and despite mentioning it to my doc, noone did any further testing. I have long suspected I am gluten sensitive since I react to gluten products. However, my family doc suggested I see a naturopath to do an elimination diet to see if it really is gluten or something else I am sensitive to. Just for kicks, she threw in some blood work and we were both surprised it came back abnormal.

Here are just the celiac ones I had done (I know there are other tests but these are the ones I had run):

IgA: 1.90 (range 0.69-3.82)

Gliadin IgA: 3.5 (range <11.99)

Gliadin IgG: 23.2 (HIGH) (range <11.99)

Transglutaminase IgA: 2.3 (range <9.99)

In addition my Iron and hemoglobin were low, and my ESR was double the max normal range. Suggesting there is inflammation and probably a bleed.

I know from my research that the Transglutaminase is more specific for celiac, but if my Gliadin is positive, wouldn't that mean I react to gluten? So what is the point of doing a biopsy if I know I react to gluten? And only one of the gliadin immunoglobulins was positive - why not both?

Is the biopsy worth having done? I am waiting to hear from a gastroenterologist but all this is so confusing - I could use some help!

I can't make any diet changes till the biopsy is done - but I don't want my gut to get more damaged than it clearly already is (judging by the inflammation and bleeding).

Thoughts?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


alicewa Contributor
alicewa
Posted

It's a question we all ask ourselves. I had the whole lot done except for the gene test. I was positive for tTG as well as IgG Gliadin and had a positive endoscopy.

Your case doesn't sound as serious as mine. You may have a normal biopsy as a matter of fact due to tTG being normal.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

You can have all those tests come back negative and still be very, very ill from celiac. You can also have a false negative on the biopsies. No matter what the results of the biopsy you need to go gluten free when that test is done. Whether you want to have the biopsy done is up to you. Your doctor may give you an official diagnosis with positive blood work and remission of symptoms on the diet. If an official diagnosis is of value to you and you are reluctant to have the endo you could talk to your doctor about diagnosing that way.

Do stay on gluten until all the celiac related tests you choose to do are done and then get on the diet.

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Hard to know what that panel means, other than your immune system recognizes gluten. You'd have to get a biopsy to discover whether it's celiac or intolerance becasue anti-gliadin IgG can go either way. To my way of thinking, with weird labs it's definitely worth getting the biopsy done.

alicewa Contributor
alicewa
Posted

Here's are two videos by Rodney Ford. It's definitely worth the 10 minutes in total or so to watch them because he talks about a girl who is in a similar situation to yours. The second one talks about various gluten tests and how they work.

Hard to know what that panel means, other than your immune system recognizes gluten. You'd have to get a biopsy to discover whether it's celiac or intolerance becasue anti-gliadin IgG can go either way. To my way of thinking, with weird labs it's definitely worth getting the biopsy done.

Are false negatives worse with labs than the biopsy?

I'd say if the original poster has been eating gluten all along, she might as well have the biopsy if she can.

nora-n Rookie
nora-n
Posted

I woud suggest getting the new deaminated gliadin tests done, both the IgA and IgG versions, since we have had several people here with symptoms and negative ttg, but positive DGP.

That one is very specific for celiac and can pick up patchy celiac.

The ttg test is very bad at picking up patchy celiac.

Patchy celiac is the most common for of celiac nowadays.

peeptoad Apprentice
peeptoad
Posted

Hard to know what that panel means, other than your immune system recognizes gluten. You'd have to get a biopsy to discover whether it's celiac or intolerance becasue anti-gliadin IgG can go either way. To my way of thinking, with weird labs it's definitely worth getting the biopsy done.

Re: the bolded type. This is what confuses me about the lab tests... if a person's body recognizes gluten (or anything else for that matter) as something it needs to produce antibodies against, doesn't that automatically make that substance (gluten, or whatever) a problem for that person regardless of how much antibody production occurs?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Re: the bolded type. This is what confuses me about the lab tests... if a person's body recognizes gluten (or anything else for that matter) as something it needs to produce antibodies against, doesn't that automatically make that substance (gluten, or whatever) a problem for that person regardless of how much antibody production occurs?

I think so. Antibody production can also build up so a low positive on a celiac test could go into a strong postive down the line. IMHO even if the antibodies are at low levels it is wise to drop what is causing the antibodies rather than continueing to injest until your antibodies reach high levels.

21daisygurl Newbie
21daisygurl
Posted
  • Author

Re: the bolded type. This is what confuses me about the lab tests... if a person's body recognizes gluten (or anything else for that matter) as something it needs to produce antibodies against, doesn't that automatically make that substance (gluten, or whatever) a problem for that person regardless of how much antibody production occurs?

AH this is what I was getting at in my OP. Since my body clearly produces antibodies against gluten, whether or not I am celiac shouldn't matter, so much as the fact that my gut is leaky to gluten, correct?

I am going to go watch those video's posted - I appreciate the opinions. I hope I get in to see the specialist soon!

peeptoad Apprentice
peeptoad
Posted

I think so. Antibody production can also build up so a low positive on a celiac test could go into a strong postive down the line. IMHO even if the antibodies are at low levels it is wise to drop what is causing the antibodies rather than continueing to injest until your antibodies reach high levels.

Now, that makes sense... B)

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Re: the bolded type. This is what confuses me about the lab tests... if a person's body recognizes gluten (or anything else for that matter) as something it needs to produce antibodies against, doesn't that automatically make that substance (gluten, or whatever) a problem for that person regardless of how much antibody production occurs?

The usual antibody in the intestines is IgA since you have normal IgA. IgG is an antibody more associated with allergy, if anything. People can have IgG antibodies to foods and nothing happens at all when they eat them because the food doesn't get to the bloodstream to react with the IgG. Other people are quite sensitive to their IgG foods.

You need the biopsy to know whether you're celiac and the IgA just doesn't happen to be making it into the bloodstream, or whether you're gluten intolerant and not having autoimmune problems. (A nicer situation because there isn't the cancer risk.)

mash Newbie
mash
Posted

My understanding is that IgG is actually a kind of "transient" intolerance as opposed to a lifelong one. Read this document: Open Original Shared Link).pdf where they explain that once your IgG test comes back positive, they will take you off a specific foodstuff for a while and then make a decision on whether or not to reintroduce it.

With Celiac Disease (lifelong intolerance), they are only really looking at IgG if you are IgA deficient.

So yes, you probably need to cut out the gluten, but it might not be for the rest of your life, you might be able to reintroduce it and then test again?

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Mash, SOME celiacs do show IgG in blood, but there is also IgA in the mucosa and damage. The only way to know is the biopsy. Agreed that IgG is more often associated with intolerance, and that some IgG intolerance can be transient.

21daisygurl Newbie
21daisygurl
Posted
  • Author

My understanding is that IgG is actually a kind of "transient" intolerance as opposed to a lifelong one. Read this document: Open Original Shared Link).pdf where they explain that once your IgG test comes back positive, they will take you off a specific foodstuff for a while and then make a decision on whether or not to reintroduce it.

With Celiac Disease (lifelong intolerance), they are only really looking at IgG if you are IgA deficient.

So yes, you probably need to cut out the gluten, but it might not be for the rest of your life, you might be able to reintroduce it and then test again?

Thank you for that document! That sounds exactly right - I did have an inflammatory response based on the bloodwork so this delayed food allergies and chronic complaints sounds like me for sure.

Still haven't heard from the gastroenterologist but I am really enjoying reading all of your different thoughts on this. I really appreciate the constant insight. I am learning so much from you guys.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,191
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    teresa1955
    Newest Member
    teresa1955
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Ginger38
      Food Allergies

      By Ginger38 · Posted

      So I recently had allergy testing for IGE antibodies in response to foods. My test results came back positive to corn, white potatoes, egg whites. Tomatoes, almonds and peanuts to name a few.  I have had obvious reactions to a few of these - particularly tomatoes and corn- both GI issues. I don’t really understand all this allergy versus celiac stuff. If the food allergies are mild do I have to avoid these foods entirely? I don’t know what I will eat if I can’t  have corn based gluten free products 
    • Kris2093u4
      Bread choice for a newbie

      By Kris2093u4 · Posted

      Geography makes a difference.  I'm in the West and Trader Joe's gluten-free bread tastes great and is a better price than most gluten-free breads sold elsewhere in my area.  
    • JForman
      7yo struggling!

      By JForman · Posted

      We have four children (7-14 yo), and our 7 year old was diagnosed with NCGS (though all Celiac labs were positive, her scope at 4 years old was negative so docs in the US won't call it celiac). We have started her on a Gluten Free diet after 3 years of major digestive issues and ruling out just about everything under the sun. Our home and kitchen and myself are all gluten-free. But I have not asked my husband/her dad or her other siblings to go completely gluten-free with us. They are at home, but not out of the home. This has led to situations when we are eating out where she has to consistently see others eating things she can't have and she has begun to say "Well, I can't have <fill in the blank>...stupid gluten."  How have you supported your gluten-free kiddos in the mental health space of this journey, especially young ones like her. I know it's hard for me as an adult sometimes to miss out, so I can't imagine being 7 and dealing with it! Any tips or ideas to help with this? 
    • Jane878
      My mo,ther married a bread making when I was 4

      By Jane878 · Posted

      By the time I was 5 I had my first auto0immune disorder, Migraine headaches, with auras to blind me, and vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound. I was 5 years old, and my stepfather would have pizza night, milling his own flour, making thick cheesy gluten pizza, that I would eat and the next day, I would have serious migraines, and my mother & stepfather did nothing about my medical problems. When I was 17 in my first year at college, I was diagnosed with my 2nd known auto-immune disorder, Meniere's disease. I was a elite athlete, a swimmer, and soccer player. And once again my parents didn't think anything of understanding why I had a disorder only older people get. Now after my mother passed from Alzheimer's disease she also suffered with living with gluten. She had a rash for 30 years that nobody could diagnose. She was itchy for 45 years total. My brother had a encapsulated virus explodes in his spleen and when this happened his entire intestines were covered with adhesions, scar tissue and he almost lost his life. He has 5 daughters, and when I finally was diagnosed after being pregnant and my body went into a cytokine storm, I lost my chance to have children, I ended up having Hashimoto's disease, Degenerative Disc disease, and my body started to shut down during my first trimester. I am 6ft tall and got down to 119lbs. My husband and I went to a special immunologist in Terrace, California. They took 17 vials of blood as we flew there for a day and returned home that evening. In 3 weeks, we had the answer, I have Celiac disease. Once this was known, only my father and husband made efforts to change their way of feeding me. At the family cabin, my stepfather & mother were more worried that I would ruin Thanksgiving Dinner. It wasn't until one of my cousins was diagnosed with Celiac disease. They finally looked into getting Gluten Free flour and taking measures to limit "gluten" in meals. He did nothing but ask for me to pay for my own food and wi-fi when I came to the cabin to stay after our house burned down. When he informed my mother, they proceeding to get into a physical fight and she ended up with a black eye. The is just more trauma for me. Sam had no interest in telling the truth about what he wanted. He lied to my mother that he had asked my husband if I could pay for "food" when he asked Geoffrey if I had money to pay for my wi-fi. My mother hates when he spends so much time on the computer so he lied and said I could pay for my own food. I will remind you I weighed 119lbs at this time. (At 6ft) that is a very sick looking person. Neither parent was worried about my weight, they just fought about how cheap my stepfather was. As my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2014. He had her sign over the will to a trust and added his children. He had no testimonial capacity at the time, so she signed without proper papers. Making this Trust null and void. When I gave my brother my childhood home, my mother stated I would be getting an equal part of inheritance to the house on Race. It currently worth 2.0 million $. I got nothing, and my stepfather has since disowned me b/c of my claim and he knows that my mother would never have left it uneven between my biological brother and myself. She sat me and my husband down, as we lived at the Race Street house and treated and took care of it as our own. My brother took over b/c he was going through a horrific divorce and needed a home so he could get a better custody deal with his soon to be ex-wife who was a Assist DA for Denver. She used the girls against him, and he & I were the primary caregivers. We, Judd and I spent the most time with them pre the divorce. Once Judd moved into the house, he threw all of my mother, grandmother and my family heirlooms out to the Goodwill. Nobody told my mother about this as she was going through cancer treatment and had Alzheimer's disease in her mother and her sister. My stepfather and biological brother took advantage of this matter, as I called a "family council" that my brother just never could make it to at the last moment. All of the furnishing, kitchen ware, everything was in the house my brother just moved into. He had had 2 weddings, I chose to elope b/c my stepfather ruined my brother's first wedding by talking about his relationship with my brother in front of my dad and his entire family, insulting him and having my grandfather leave the ceremony. It was a disaster. My stepfather just plays dumb and blames my father for the slight. I was the only child not to have a wedding. So, my mother and stepfather never had to pay for a thing. My mother had had an agreement with my father he'd pay for college and all medical issues with their kids, myself and Judd. So truly my mother never had to pay for anything big for me in her entire life. I am looking for anyone that has had a similar story, where they grew up in a household that had a baker that regularly milled flour and ate gluten. What happened to you? DId you suffer from different auto-immune diseases b/c of living with a baker using "gluten" Please let me know. I have been looking into legal ways to get my stepfather to give me what my mother had promised, and he erased. Thank you for listening to my story. Jane Donnelly  
    • trents
      Blood results

      By trents · Posted

      Possibly gluten withdrawal. Lot's of info on the internet about it. Somewhat controversial but apparently gluten plugs into the same neuro sensors as opiates do and some people get a similar type withdrawal as they do when quitting opiates. Another issue is that gluten-free facsimile flours are not fortified with vitamins and minerals as is wheat flour (in the U.S. at least) so when the switch is made to gluten-free facsimile foods, especially if a lot of processed gluten-free foods are being used as substitutes, vitamin and mineral deficiencies can result. There is also the possibility that she has picked up a virus or some but that is totally unrelated to going gluten-free.
×
×
  • Create New...