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

How Quickly Should Blood Tests Results Return To Normal After Starting Gluten-Free Diet?


CSherm

Recommended Posts

CSherm Newbie

I was diagnosed wth Celiac last September, following a biopsy taken in connection with an endoscopy for an unrelated issue. When the biopsy results came back positive, My GI ordered blood work to confirm.

I'm not sure what the name of the test was but the lab report says "Celiac screen detects IgA and IgC antibodies to deamidated gliadin and tissue transglutaminase." The interpretation is normal at levels less than 20, weak positive 20-30 and positive for over 30.

My result in September was 211.

I have been on a gluten-free diet since then and am as careful as I can be. I have not knowingly eaten anything with gluten since then, and I am careful with label reading, food prep and restaurant choices. But because I have no "traditional" symptoms, it is hard to know if/when I have a cc issue. Some of my symptoms seem to have been helped by the diet, others not so much.

Following my dietician's advice (to repeat the blood test 6 months out) I asked my GI to order a new test two weeks ago, to see if my "levels" have returned to normal. The result of that test was 42. Much lower than 211, but still significantly positive.

I know that the damage that celiac causes to the small intestines can take time to heal. But I assume that the blood work should return to normal fairly quickly on a gluten-free diet, at least within 8 months between the tests.

I can think of three possibile causes for my positive result:

1. Despite not having traditional symptoms, I am highly sensitive, so that very small and infrequent cc issues are keeping my levels high.

2. My levels are in the process of going down and I'm doing fine with my diet, it just takes more than 8 months to go from 211 to below 20.

3. Something other than gluten else is causing the positive result. According to several sources I have read, a few other autoimmune issues can cause positive results.

So my main question is how long should it take for the blood test result to be normal after adopting a gluten-free diet? The answer to that question will help me decide whether to simply retest in six months, whether to consider other causes, or whether to tighten up what is already a pretty rigid gluten-free diet.

Thanks for your help.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



BabsV Enthusiast

I would say there is no magic time frame that everyone falls under...depends on how high your levels were to begin with, how long you were sick, how your body heals, how strict you are about the diet, accidental glutenings, etc.

As six months I was much closer to the 'negative/normal' range but still slightly above it. As my levels were going in the right direction (DOWN!), and I had improvement in most of my symptoms the doctor who read my tests told me that I was on the right track and to continue what I was doing. He said to re-test at 1 year gluten-free to see how the numbers looked then. He said he would only worry if it had been 2 years (!) and I was still not in the 'negative/normal' range. He also said adults often take longer to 'heal' than children.

I'm not a medical professional but from the numbers you posted it looks like you're on the right track and have had a sizable decrease in your levels. Yay! If it is really worrying you, you take a moment to make sure you aren't getting 'hidden' gluten from something -- are all your meds (assuming you take some) gluten-free? What about lip balm, etc? Any chance of trace gluten getting you from CC issues in a shared kitchen? Do you eat out a lot? If none of that seems to apply it may simply take you a little more time. I wish that when I'd been given my diagnosis I'd been given a stern lecture on being patient because I've wanted everything to be better in a much shorter length of time that it is taking me to heal. This is obviously some sort of life lesson I needed to learn! :o

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Cara in Boston Enthusiast

I think it is different for each person.

My blood test went from positive to negative within two weeks of being gluten free.

My son's numbers barely moved after 6 months. At that time we "stepped it up" a bit, eliminating "questionable" things like gluten-free food that was "processed in a facility that handles wheat" and we stopped eating out - even if the place had a gluten-free menu (unless it was 100% gluten free). At his 1 year test, he is finally in the "normal" range. He is only 7 and does not have any physical symptoms so it was very hard to tell if we were doing it right. Turns out he just needed more time.

Cara

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CSherm Newbie

Thanks for the responses. After I submitted my post I saw an earlier thread addressing a similar issue, and it does look like the consensus is that everyone is different.

I think I may keep my current routine for another few months and see where I am. If I'm still in the positive range I will look into places where I can tighten things up with my food strategies.

Thanks again for your responses.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mushroom Proficient

I think that from 211 to 42 is a massive drop!! Healing does not occur according to a doctor's preconceived time schedule. So long as you are keeping the gluten out the numbers will continue to go down, I am sure. Stay with the program!! :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      125,167
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    JaneB
    Newest Member
    JaneB
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.8k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Welcome to the fourum, @Grace Good! I cannot find any claims in the Amazon advertising for this company's products to the effect of it being gluten free. Yet, you state in your post that "it says their gluten free". What is "it"? Is there such a statement on the packaging?
    • knitty kitty
      @Allias, Do you have low magnesium levels?   "The serum levels of parathyroid hormone and magnesium depend on each other in a complex manner. The secretion of parathyroid hormone by the parathyroid is physiologically controlled by the serum calcium level, but magnesium can exert similar effects. While low levels of magnesium stimulate parathyroid hormone secretion, very low serum concentrations induce a paradoxical block. This block leads to clinically relevant hypocalcemia in severely hypomagnesiemic patients. The mechanism of this effect has recently been traced to an activation of the alpha-subunits of heterotrimeric G-proteins. This activation mimicks activation of the calcium sensing receptor and thus causes inhibition of parathyroid hormone secretion. In addition to the effects of magnesium on parathyroid hormone secretion, parathyroid hormone in turn regulates magnesium homeostasis by modulating renal magnesium reabsorption. The distal convoluted tubule is of crucial importance for parathyroid hormone-regulated magnesium homeostasis." Magnesium and the parathyroid https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12105390/  
    • Wheatwacked
      I'm guessing it was Manic Depression. I was depressed for 30 years.  It did not go away until I increased vitamin D3 to 10,000 IU (250 mcg) a day.  Three days after going from 8000 IU to 10,000 IU a great dark cloud lifted. Unless you are deficient in Calcium intake from food, don't supplement with calcium.  A high Parathyroid Hormone PTH blood test would indicate insufficient vitamin D causing calcium absorption problems..  High intakes of calcium can be associated with coronary artery calcification. In one study, calcium and vitamin D supplementation accelerated vascular calcification. Thousands of studies of vitamin D supplementation without Calcium have shown that vitamin D is safe even as much as 20,000 IU a day. Vitamin D Is Not as Toxic as Was Once Thought That is confusing. Many gluten processed foods are fortified with vitamins that you no longer get with gluten-free foods.  Doctors don't recognize this as Knitty Kitty mentions. Sorry for the loss of your friend.   I see a pattern where a person with low vitamin D has a stressful situation, mentally or physically like Covid or a cold even allows the immune system to get out of control.  Low vitamin D is common in Celiac Disease.  You seem to fit the pattern. Low choline (eggs and meat) can cause problems digesting fat and Low Thiamine can cause gastrointestinal beriberi.  Iodine deficiency is a growing concern.  Low B12 can be the cause of anemial is you are vegan.
    • Grace Good
      I feel super ill from putting in the lip balm. It says their gluten free but I've found a lot of manufacturers do that.  Can companies actually be honest if they aren't entirely sure 
    • Wheatwacked
      high levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) can indicate a vitamin D deficiency. The "normal level" of 25(OH) D is 80 ng/ml (200 nmol/L). That is the level our body sets as it's normal limit when we don't limit sunshine.  For some people like me it takes 10,000 IU a day to maintain that.  Lack of enough sun and malabsorption of vitamin D orally.  
×
×
  • Create New...