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

Confusing Gene Test Results!


alanalynch

Recommended Posts

alanalynch Rookie

I am brand new to this website so if I mess it up I apologise!

I noticed quite a few people on this site have used Enterolab before and wondered if anyone else had had the gene tests done. I did and I am totally confused as to what they mean!! My results were;

Molecular analysis: HLA-DQB1 0603, 0301

Serologic equivalent: HLA-DQ 1,3 (subtype 6,7)

'HLA gene analysis reveals that you have a genotype that predisposes to gluten sensitivity (HLA-DQ1,3 especially that involving DQB1 0301)'

At first glance they seem to mean I am predisposed to gluten sensitivity, yet I was looking on the internet and if you don't have the gene type HLA-DQ2 you can't actually get celiacs....ever!!

Does this mean I am actually immune to it?? If so, how can I be sensitive to gluten?? Maybe this website I was reading, which I can't even find now but was written by a bunch of specialist doctors, was rubbish.

I am very confused, I hope someone out there has more knowledge on this!! :blink:


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Rachel--24 Collaborator
At first glance they seem to mean I am predisposed to gluten sensitivity, yet I was looking on the internet and if you don't have the gene type HLA-DQ2 you can't actually get celiacs....ever!!

Does this mean I am actually immune to it??  If so, how can I be sensitive to gluten??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No...it doesnt mean you're immune to Celiac. It just means that you dont carry the main Celiac genes so the chances of you developing villi damage that can be seen in the biopsy are pretty slim. You do carry Gluten Sensitivity genes which means if you're results were positive then you should remain gluten free.

Were your results positive or did you only have gene testing done?

It doesnt really matter whether you have Celiac or Gluten Sensitivity since they both cause damage to the body...the only treatment for either one is the gluten-free diet.

Nevadan Contributor

You might want to check out this website: Open Original Shared Link

They focus more on non-celiac disease gluten sensitivity.

Also you might want to read "Dangerous Grains" by Braly & Hoggan (~$10 @ Amazon) It has quite a bit of discussion on non-celiac disease gluten sensitivity.

Hope this helps.

George

alanalynch Rookie
No...it doesnt mean you're immune to Celiac. It just means that you dont carry the main Celiac genes so the chances of you developing villi damage that can be seen in the biopsy are pretty slim. You do carry Gluten Sensitivity genes which means if you're results were positive then you should remain gluten free.

Were your results positive or did you only have gene testing done?

It doesnt really matter whether you have Celiac or Gluten Sensitivity since they both cause damage to the body...the only treatment for either one is the gluten-free diet.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for replying Rachel. I didn't realise there were different levels of gluten intolerance, and I am actually quite glad I have this milder version! I had been worried about intestinal damage as I have to admit I'm not exactly the strictest gluten free eater...(pizza pizza gets me everytime) however I am working on changing this bad habit as it always looks so damn good in the box, yet feels absolutely horrible 20 mins later!!

I did have all the tests done (stool, casein etc) with Enterolab and they came back positive for gluten/casien sensitivity, and before that I had blood tests in Australia (where I'm from originally) to see why my B12 was so low (plus I suffered unexplainable anxiety) and it was a fluke I tested positive for gluten intolerance. My doctor told me not to eat gluten anymore, (she was really quite casual about it) but I guess once I realised what that actually meant I went into denial and needed more convincing, which is where Enterolab came in. So now I guess I'm back trying to find more reasons not be gluten sensitive. You have to give me credit for trying!!

This forum is great though, I have had absolutely no support or info since being diagnosed and my current doctor here in Toronto told my pharmacist I was 'glucose' intolerant. So my last antibiotics made me horribly sick until I spoke to the pharmacist and he was pretty surprised. The tablets I were on were full of gluten! So its been a daily trial.

Nevadan Contributor
Thanks for replying Rachel.  I didn't realise there were different levels of gluten intolerance, and I am actually quite glad I have this milder version!  I had been worried about intestinal damage as I have to admit I'm not exactly the strictest gluten free eater...(pizza pizza gets me everytime) however I am working on changing this bad habit as it always looks so damn good in the box, yet feels absolutely horrible 20 mins later!! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

alanalynch,

I hate to be the bearer of bad news; however the idea that there are milder versions/levels of gluten sensitivity is not accepted by the leading researchers today. Gluten sensitivity presents itself with different symptoms/illnesses in different people - some have the intestinal problems while other seem to have more neurological problems (anxiety comes to mind) such as ataxy, peripheral neuropathy, etc. They are all bad. All tend to lead eventually to various undesirable autoimmune diseases. The scary part is that while the intestinal manifestations can usually have full recovery with a gluten-free diet, many of the neurological problems are irreversible - gluten-free can slow or stop their progress but not provide recovery.

Also cheating on a gluten-free diet is like not even attempting it. I think the latest testing confirms that one small cheat per month is about the same as not being gluten-free at all.

Take a look at my earlier post to your thread and check out some of those references for further info on the neurological implications.

For you own sake, I wish you the best of success on your gluten-free diet.

George

Rachel--24 Collaborator
Thanks for replying Rachel.  I didn't realise there were different levels of gluten intolerance, and I am actually quite glad I have this milder version! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ummm...I don't mean to disappoint you but its not necessarily a "milder" form of gluten intolerance. It can still cause you serious health problems including autoimmune diseases. It can also still damage the intestinal wall....its just not likely to cause the same villi damage that is seen in a Celiac but it is not a "milder" version. You can become just as sick or even sicker than a person with Celiac. I have genes similar to yours and I was off work on disability for 2 years while doctors tried to figure out what was wrong. Toward the end I wasnt able to get out of bed and I was nearly suicidal from the pain and depression. After 4 weeks of the diet I was able to go back to work...I've been back 3 full weeks now. Here is a link about Non-Celiac gluten sensitivity.

Open Original Shared Link

I would recommend the book "Dangerous Grains". It really helped me to understand things better. Basically you need to treat this the same as if you had Celiac. (If your tests were positive)

Did you have the antibody and tTG test as well? Were they positive?

alanalynch Rookie
Did you have the antibody and tTG test as well? Were they positive?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for your help Rachel and George. Yes I did have the antibody and tTg tests and they were positive. No malabsorption though.

Its strange hearing you mention what you went through before you were diagnosed, I went through pretty much the same things. Anxiety, feeling terrible, not able to work. My doctors kept telling me it was all in my head and sending me to endless therapists. Each time I'd tell them I really didn't feel well and that I wasn't making it up they'd put me on another anti-depressant. I became so sick at one point that I actually looked dead! My father flew over from NZ (where I grew up) and was absolutely horrified. However they managed to convince him that I was just having some kind of breakdown and that maybe I needed drug rehab....for the drugs they put me on!!!!!.

My husband however was more skeptical and really did wonder if they knew what they were doing. I mean, I was on so many drugs I don't think I ate anymore, just popped pills. So after taking zoloft, effexor, ciprimil, paxil, lexapro, lorazepam, valium, prozac, buspar, zantac and two others I can't even remember, the doctor asked if I wanted to try Xanax as well and my husband went nuts. He phoned the doctor and blew up at him. I think we were both just so fed up. In the end it was my ridiculously low B12 that triggered a fluke blood test that showed up the gluten sensitivity.

However its not until reading other peoples experiences that I realise there was a connection between my anxiety etc and eating gluten. (I don't have anxiety anymore which is wonderful) however I'm still skeptical, probably because they practically beat it into me that it was all in my head. I still get pretty angry at the 3 years I lost, but I guess its just not worth it.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Rachel--24 Collaborator

I lost 3 years running from doctor to doctor as well. They didnt help me and of course just wanted me to see a shrink and an antidepressant would magically fix everything. I only tried Prozac for 2 months and it didnt do anything for me...I didnt really think it would since I knew whatever was going on wasnt in my head. I refused all the meds they were writing up for me. Eventually when I did go to the shrink she told me what I already knew. She could not help me because there was something physically wrong which no antidepressant was gonna fix. Turned out that the psychiatrist was the only doctor NOT trying to shove antidepressants down my throat. I changed my diet 1 week after seeing her and guess what....the depression left and never came back. I pretty much looked dead too...my Mom came and got me and brought me to her house. She was pretty shocked at how unclean my house was and I was a mess and only weighing 94 lbs. I'm doing much better now and my house is clean again. :)

alanalynch Rookie

It is so good you are doing well now too. I didn't even bother to weigh myself at the end there as I pretty much looked like a walking pencil. At 5'9" I really couldn't afford to lose the weight to start with. I am now however a healthy weight again and have actually gone back to study fulltime Interior Design at the ripe old age of 31! The way I figure it I'm still the age I was when I first got sick (27) so I'm living those lost years now.

Its insane though isn't it, that doctors let things get this bad before they check the most obvious causes first. I thought the saying was 'first do no harm'. When in fact all they did to me, and by the sound of it you too, was cause harm. You were so lucky with your psychiatrist though, she sounds really clued on. When I think about it though I did have one therapist who mentioned I might be having a possible reaction to caffeine, which is definately more than any of my doctors thought about. Thank goodness for Dr Fine!

By the way, my husband is bugging me to find out if you live anywhere near San Francisco. He is obsessed with the place and wants us to move there oneday. After having lived in New Zealand, Australia, England, back to Australia and now Canada whats one more stop!! :P Hey, maybe they have decent doctors. I have no idea of any in Toronto thats for sure.

Rachel--24 Collaborator
By the way, my husband is bugging me to find out if you live anywhere near San Francisco.  He is obsessed with the place and wants us to move there oneday.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes...I do live near SF. I was born there and lived there when I was small. My Dad and brother still live there. I have friends there and as much as I love SF....I really have no desire to live there. I'm happy just visiting and I love the night-life, ball-games and shopping but then I love to go home where I can actually park in front of my house. :)

alanalynch Rookie
but then I love to go home where I can actually park in front of my house.  :)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I hear you on that one. NZ is so much quieter than Toronto and you can even park two cars outside your house if you want to! Plus there are trees and clean air, something definately lacking in Toronto. But I do like the big cities. Although you would think the bigger the city the more clued on they would be about something like celiacs, yet nope, they were actually worse. It was a small town Australian doctor who took the blood tests. Oh well, at least with this forum I am finally getting some answers to the things that have been bugging me for months. Thanks for all your help with this.

Nevadan Contributor

One more suggestion: Take a look at this thread under celiac disease - Related Disorders...

Open Original Shared Link

The thread is long and gets better as it goes - lots of descriptions of neuro related effects of gluten.

George

alanalynch Rookie
One more suggestion:  Take a look at this thread under celiac disease - Related Disorders...

Open Original Shared Link 

The thread is long and gets better as it goes - lots of descriptions of neuro related effects of gluten.

George

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks George, I'm going to check it out now. :)

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      126,475
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Lilstorm
    Newest Member
    Lilstorm
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.9k
    • Total Posts
      69.4k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Mmar
      Hello! I have been on a strict gluten-free diet for 20 years after my initial diagnosis, but in July had an endoscopy that showed villous atrophy (but multiple ttgs have all been normal). I have gone through everything in my house to eliminate any gluten and have been eating almost no processed foods, and will be getting a second endoscopy in a month because my GI doctor thinks it could be refractory celiac. She told me that if it’s refractory, I would need to see a “specialist” because she doesn’t know enough.  I live in Philadelphia and the Celiac Center at Jefferson has 0 appointments with any doctors, I keep trying. Does anyone know of either a doctor in Philadelphia that treats refractory celiac or a doctor elsewhere that does virtual appointments to treat refractory? Thank you!
    • knitty kitty
      @GardeningForHealth, On my journey, I found following the Autoimmune Paleo Diet most helpful in reducing reactions to various foods.  It's very restrictive, but it really helps improve gut health.  It's worth the effort for a few weeks or months. Tea from any grocery store; Tea, organic; Tea, grown in USA, never-sprayed, loose leaf Tea contains TANNINS which can inactivate Thiamin resulting in Thiamin deficiency.  Tannins inhibit the absorption of other vitamins and minerals, especially iron. Tannins can inactivate digestive enzymes.  So drink tea between meals.  Choose a tea with lower levels of tannin, like green tea or Oolong tea.  Oolong tea contains amino acid Theanine which reduces inflammation in the digestive tract. Dairy; Rice, any brand, even after washing 3 times Many people develop Lactose intolerance because damaged villi in the intestinal lining of the digestive tract cannot produce the enzyme Lactase needed to digest the sugar in dairy, Lactose.   Many people with Celiac Disease react to the protein Casein the same as they react to the protein Gluten.  This is because both Casein and Gluten, as well as the protein in rice, carry a similar segment of a protein building block chain (33 mer peptide) that triggers the autoimmune response in Celiac Disease.  Basmati rice is less likely to carry this protein chain and may be better tolerated.  Don't wash rice before cooking.  The added vitamins get washed away.  Some of those grains of rice are extruded vitamins.  They dissolved into the cooking water and are reabsorbed into the grains as the rice cooks. Organic catchup, Potatoes; Tomatoes are a member of the Nightshade vegetables which have been shown to increase gastrointestinal permeability and "leaky gut syndrome."  Potatoes, Peppers and Eggplant also belong to the Nightshades, and should be avoided until healed.  Catsup usually is acidic which can be irritating to the digestive system. Any and all brands of gluten-free breads and dessert items; Cassava flour; Gluten-free flour Often these contain cross contamination with gluten.  @Scott Adams recently posted a new article about this.  Gluten free products are not enriched with vitamins and minerals needed to digest and process them.  They are high in insoluble fiber and saturated fats.  These may also contain microbial transglutaminase, see below. Sausage, Any processed meat These foods contain microbial transglutaminase, a flavor and texture enhancer, called "meat glue" in the food processing industry, which triggers and provokes anti-gluten antibodies to attack the microbial transglutaminase as well as the tissue transglutaminase produced by our own bodies as with Celiac Disease.  We have articles about microbial transglutaminase, too.  Cassava also contains Thiaminase, an enzyme which destroys Thiamin. Cucumbers from a grocery store, but not from my garden, Most apples, Zucchini, Plums Cucumbers, like these other fruits and veggies, contain lots of soluble fiber, pectin, which intestinal bacteria can ferment and then make short chain fatty acids, which are beneficial.  So that's a good thing.  However, commercially produced breeds of veggies and fruits may contain higher levels of pectins than historically home grown varieties.  Excess consumption of pectins can result in gas, bloating and diarrhea.   Bottled spices  There's an article (perhaps @Scott Adams can help us find, please) about how some spices can cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Gluten-free dairy-free ice cream These can cause reactions if one reacts to oats.  Products made from nuts or nut milks may contain high levels of lectins which are hard to digest and can cause all the usual symptoms.   Smoke from a fire; Strong cleaning chemical fumes These contain Sulfites.  Developing a hyperensitivity to Sulfites is possible in Celiac Disease.  We can be low in vitamins and minerals needed to process Sulfites.  I have Hypersensitivity Type Four where the immune system identifies Sulfites as something to be attacked.  Celiac Disease is another Hypersensitivity Type Four disorder. Packaged sweet potato chips; Packaged plantain chips;  Rice; Any and all brands of gluten-free breads and dessert items; Cassava flour; Gluten-free flour; Gluten-free dairy-free ice cream A High Carbohydrate diet can lead to Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).  Adopting a Paleo diet like the AIP diet is a great way to change your gut biome without using antibiotics which kill off the bad with the good bacteria.  Taking probiotics may not be very effective as long as SIBO bacteria are entrenched in the digestive tract.  You change what you eat and you change what grows inside you.  You starve out the bad SIBO bacteria, repopulate and feed the good ones.  Supplementing with Benfotiamin helps because thiamine has antibacterial properties that keeps the bad bacteria in check and benefits the good bacteria.  Benfotiamin is needed to process all those carbs turning them into energy instead of them turning to fat.   I hope this has been helpful.
    • trents
      Welcome to the forum @Newhere19! Yes, we have had many forum members that for one reason or another cannot go forward with the confirmation step of the endoscopy with biopsy. Usually it is because they have already been gluten free for a significant period and react so severely to gluten ingestion that they cannot undertake the gluten challenge without endangering their health. But we also have had more than a few who have severe anxiety surrounding the endoscopy itself and cannot bring themselves to go forward with it. May I ask, what was your antibody score or scores, what was the name of the test or tests done and what were the ranges given for normal/negative vs. positive?  What symptoms do you have? What caused you to seek out celiac testing? And to answer your question, many on this forum have had to go forward with the gluten free diet without an official diagnosis for the reasons already stated. You should start seeing symptom improvement within weeks. But realize that achieving a truly free gluten lifestyle is more challenging than most of us realize at the outset. There is a real learning curve involved in order to achieve consistency. That is partly due to the many unexpected places gluten is tucked away in the food supply/supplements/medications and partly because of CC (Cross Contamination) issues. I will offer this primer to get you off to a good start:  
    • Newhere19
      I recently had bloodwork done with a GI specialist and was told that I have celiac.. .but they will not confirm the diagnosis without an endoscopy and biopsy. Due to severe trauma I cannot endure the endoscopy and they made it quite clear full sedation is not an option. So now I have to venture forward assuming this is in fact what is causing all of my symptoms. Has anyone else here had the same experience and started the gluten free diet to see if you're really suffering from celiac? If so, how long did you commit before safely saying the results are accurate? My thought was at least three months would be necessary. Much love to everyone ❤️ 
    • trents
×
×
  • Create New...