Biopsy And Blood Test Results Are Different

[sillysongbird]

Hi, I was on the internet looking for answers when I came across this website, and I hope someone has had a similar experience. I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy to check for polyps (I had a history of them), and to try and find out what the heck is wrong with me. My doctor has suspected IBS for years, but never offered to confirm the diagnosis, so I saw a gastroenterologist with the hope of finding some relief to these symptoms that greatly impact my lifestyle. The gastroenterologist removed a polyp and took three tissue samples for testing. The doctor said that the biopsy indicated that I may have Celiac Disease, but I should come in for a blood test to confirm. I went in for the blood test and it was negative for Celiac. Instead of making such a radical change without a firm diagnosis, we decided that maybe the blood test was influenced by a lack of gluten in my diet in the days or weeks before the test. So I'm going to eat regularly and add in plenty of gluten-containing products for about two months, then have the blood test again. My question is this: Has anyone else had a negative blood test and a positive biopsy? If so, did the doc eventually confirm Celiac? I hate not knowing what is wrong and I hate feeling bad so often. If there is anyone who has had a similar experience, will you post and let me know?

[mushroom]

Yes, conflicting blood and biopsy results are not uncommon, often depending on which of the blood tests were run. If the GI did not run the full celiac panel the chances of a false negative are higher. It is not uncommon to test negative on some blood tsts and positive on others. Some doctors rely entirely on the tTG. Some do not do a control total serum IgA to ensure that you are a normal IgA antibody producer. If they don't do this they ned to run IgG versions of the tests as well. Also, there can be other causes of flattened villi in the small intestine.

[sillysongbird]

Yes, conflicting blood and biopsy results are not uncommon, often depending on which of the blood tests were run. If the GI did not run the full celiac panel the chances of a false negative are higher. It is not uncommon to test negative on some blood tsts and positive on others. Some doctors rely entirely on the tTG. Some do not do a control total serum IgA to ensure that you are a normal IgA antibody producer. If they don't do this they ned to run IgG versions of the tests as well. Also, there can be other causes of flattened villi in the small intestine.

Thank you! Do you know what some of the other causes of flattened villi are, or where I can find info.?

[mushroom]

You might do some reading here:

https://www.celiac.com/articles/770/1/Flattened-Villi-is-Not-Always-Caused-by-Celiac-Disease/Page1.html

"Diseases other than GS can cause marked villous flattening and increased villous IELs in adults. The cause of small bowel mucosal injury is unknown. A similar non-GS-associated clinicopathologic complex, assumed to be due to a protracted viral enteritis or slow regression of a virus-induced immune reaction, occurs in children. The temporal aspects of symptom improvement and mucosal restitution in these 7 patients are similar to acute self-limited colitis. An overly exuberant immune response to an infectious agent is possible."

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