Questions About Test Results

[varthurs]

Hi all, I picked up my lab results and wanted to see if anyone could shed some light on my chances of having Celiac or not. I'm finding everything I read very confusing!

IGA, SERUM 223 (range 81-463)

Tissue Transglutam AB IGA 61 (range <5) Interpretation: Positive

Gliadin AB (IBA) 5 (range <11) Interpretation: Negative

I have to wait another week to see specialist and the waiting is killing me. Any thoughts/advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm a little afraid of biopsy, so am considering just starting gluten free now. But now sure if that's smart.

Thanks!

[mushroom]

Your tTG is strongly positive/suggestive for celiac. However, with tTG most doctors like to confirm with biopsy because an elevated tTG can have other reasons. The biopsy procedure is a very minor one and not cause for great concern. It is done under sedation and you will not remember it, and has minimal side effects, usually a mild sore throat the next day is all.

It is entirely your choice whether you choose to have the biopsy or just go straight onto the diet. If the diet does not eliminate your sylmptoms you can always have a biopsy later because it is only celiac that requires you to be eating gluten at the time of the procedure.

Congrats on getting a positive test result. Many here would envy you.

[varthurs]

Thank you, Mushroom. Is it normal for someone with celiac disease to be within the normal range for the Gliadin AB test? Isn't that the wheat protein? Sorry, I am finding this totally overwhelming and confusing.

[mushroom]

It is a rare individual who tests positive on every test. That I believe is why such an array of tests has beeen developed. Celiac is a complex disease which manifests itself in different parts of the body (while the digestive tract is the most common, it also affects the brain and neurological systems, the skin, the joints and connective tissue.) Doctos consider the tTG and now the new DGP as being the most predictive of celiac disease. It is not uncommon to have only one or two positive results and why we here at celiac.com generally encourage peeps to get the full panel run. There are people with positive biopsy for celiac who actually test negative on all blood work.

[varthurs]

Thanks again. That is good to know. I am spending too much time on different websites and I am freaking myself out. I have an aunt with scheloderma and you can only imagine where my head keeps going. I was going to pass on the biopsy, but I've decided that I am going to do it. This has been the longest few weeks. At this point I just want to get the show on the road. I appreciate your help.