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

Hypersensitivity to Protein

agentace

By agentace
in Food Intolerance & Leaky Gut

 Share

Recommended Posts

agentace Rookie
agentace
Posted

Hi All, Newly diagnosed yesterday. I was not surprised, as I was pretty sure I had celiac, but of course it doesn't end there. My biopsy report says "Findings are compatible with a malabsorption pattern of injury to include celiac sprue among other entities such as protein hypersensitivity, malnutrition and autoimmunity." Does anyone know what the protein hypersensitivity is about? The GI doctor just told me to go to my primary for food allergy testing. Wondering if this could be a sensitivity to dairy or soy?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted
(edited)

Did you have a celiac disease blood panel test run?  Any positives?  

The pathologist only sees the tissue.  He can not always determine the source of the damage.  So, he writes a general statement.  Celiac disease is very common, but other things can cause villi damage too:

https://www.cureceliacdisease.org/faq/what-else-can-cause-damage-to-the-small-intestine-other-than-celiac-disease/

If you have a positive celiac disease blood test and villi damage, you probably have celiac disease.  If you have not had the celiac disease blood test, get one now before you go gluten free.  

Allergies?  Possible.  Again, the pathologist does not know.  Usually protein allergies that severely damage the small intestine happen in young kids.  You might even have an autoimmune condition that attacks your small intestine and has nothing to do with celiac disease (like Crohn’s).  

Many celiacs do have food intolerances due to damaged villi being unable to release enzymes to help digest things like milk sugars (lactose).  Just digesting anything can hurt.  Like trying to digest while corn or nuts.  The intestine is damaged and it is going to hurt.  

You could have a milk protein or nut allergy, but that would usually involve other systemic issues like hives, rashes, nose running, sneezing, throat closing, etc.  

If you have celiac disease and I. Order to expedite healing, I have a few things to offer.  1.  Eat real, non-processed food you prepare yourself (no need to worry about reading labels as a banana is a banana!), 2.  Do NOT eat out unless it is 100% dedicated gluten free.  3.  Keep a food journal to help identify food intolerances.   Once you feel better, you can take more risks.  Expand your diet slowly.  Be patient and it takes up to a year to heal.  Really.

Read, read, read about celiac disease and learn about safe kitchen practices and cross contamination.  

Welcome to the forum!  

Edited by cyclinglady
agentace Rookie
agentace
Posted
  • Author

Interesting. Yes, my blood test was "weak positive" for celiac. I would love to not have yet another restriction on my diet!

Fenrir Community Regular
Fenrir
Posted

For the protein sensitivity bit, it's probably a good idea to have food allergy testing done. Protein sensitivity could be to milk, eggs or soy as the most common proteins people have allergies/sensitivities too. 

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted
1 hour ago, agentace said:

Interesting. Yes, my blood test was "weak positive" for celiac. I would love to not have yet another restriction on my diet!

A weak positive is a positive.  Toss in your intestinal damage and you have celiac disease!  

A positive is a positive.  Like you are either pregnant or not.  

My first GI said that I had a weak positive because I tested positive to only one of the celiac disease tests (DGP IgA) on the complete panel he ordered.  But I had a Marsh Stage IIIB per my biopsies.  Plenty of damage!  I also never had a positive on the EMA and TTG and they were run many times.  Within three months my life-long anemia resolved.  Later, repeat endoscopy/biopsies revealed healed and healthy villi.  

Sometimes GIs or PCPs will say a weak positive if you are just out of range.  It could be just out of range for another autoimmune disease.  But again, in your case, you have intestinal damage.  

Let me tell you, celiac disease is an easier diagnosis to have.  Allergic to milk....really allergic enough to damage your GI tract and you can die from exposures. Steroids are prescribed.   Celiac disease is not going to kill you fast, that is for sure.   Other things that cause villi damage require drugs like immune suppressors or chemo drugs.  

https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(17)30892-3/pdf

I am sorry that your doctor was not very clear causing you to have doubts.   He may be waiting to see how you respond to the diet.   Get tested for allergies, but know that all allergy testing is about 50% accurate.  Know that you can have concurrent illnesses like Crohn’s or SIBO besides food intolerances when you have celiac disease.  

https://www.foodallergy.org/life-with-food-allergies/food-allergy-101/diagnosis-testing/skin-prick-tests

It is hard to accept a celiac disease diagnosis. Denial is part of the grieving process.  But the good news is that you can get well without drugs.  Just a dietary change that months later will seem normal.  

 

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,918
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Trish88
    Newest Member
    Trish88
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      70.5k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      How many grams is there in one slice of wheat bread?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      The first set of results show two positive results for celiac disease, so at the very least it looks like you could have it, or at the least NCGS.   Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS.      
    • Scott Adams
      Confused with test results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Elevated tissue transglutaminase IgA (tTG-IgA) levels are highly specific for celiac disease, and they are a key biomarker used in its diagnosis. However, there are some rare instances where elevated tTG-IgA levels have been reported in conditions other than celiac disease. While these cases are not common, they have been documented in the literature. Below are some examples and references to studies or reviews that discuss these scenarios:  1. Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS)    - NCGS typically does not cause elevated tTG-IgA levels, as it is not an autoimmune condition. However, some individuals with NCGS may have mild elevations in tTG-IgA due to intestinal inflammation or other factors, though this is not well-documented in large studies.    - Reference: Catassi, C., et al. (2013). *Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity: The New Frontier of Gluten-Related Disorders*. Nutrients, 5(10), 3839–3853. [DOI:10.3390/nu5103839](https://doi.org/10.3390/nu5103839)  2. Autoimmune Diseases    - Elevated tTG-IgA levels have been reported in other autoimmune conditions, such as type 1 diabetes, autoimmune hepatitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This is thought to be due to cross-reactivity or polyautoimmunity.    - Reference: Sblattero, D., et al. (2000). *The Role of Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase in the Diagnosis and Management of Celiac Disease*. Autoimmunity Reviews, 1(3), 129–135. [DOI:10.1016/S1568-9972(01)00022-3](https://doi.org/10.1016/S1568-9972(01)00022-3)  3. Chronic Liver Disease    - Conditions like chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis can sometimes lead to elevated tTG-IgA levels, possibly due to increased intestinal permeability or immune dysregulation.    - Reference: Vecchi, M., et al. (2003). *High Prevalence of Celiac Disease in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease: A Role for Gluten-Free Diet?* Gastroenterology, 125(5), 1522–1523. [DOI:10.1016/j.gastro.2003.08.031](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gastro.2003.08.031)  4. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)    - Some patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis may have elevated tTG-IgA levels due to intestinal inflammation and damage, though this is not common.    - Reference: Walker-Smith, J. A., et al. (1990). *Celiac Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease*. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 10(3), 389–391. [DOI:10.1097/00005176-199004000-00020](https://doi.org/10.1097/00005176-199004000-00020)  5. Infections and Parasites    - While infections (e.g., giardiasis) are more commonly associated with false-positive tTG-IgA results, chronic infections or parasitic infestations can sometimes lead to elevated levels due to mucosal damage.    - Reference: Rostami, K., et al. (1999). *The Role of Infections in Celiac Disease*. European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 11(11), 1255–1258. [DOI:10.1097/00042737-199911000-00010](https://doi.org/10.1097/00042737-199911000-00010)  6. Cardiac Conditions    - Rarely, heart failure or severe cardiovascular disease has been associated with elevated tTG-IgA levels, possibly due to gut ischemia and increased intestinal permeability.    - Reference: Ludvigsson, J. F., et al. (2007). *Celiac Disease and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study*. American Heart Journal, 153(6), 972–976. [DOI:10.1016/j.ahj.2007.03.019](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2007.03.019)  Key Points: - Elevated tTG-IgA levels are highly specific for celiac disease, and in most cases, a positive result strongly suggests celiac disease. - Other conditions causing elevated tTG-IgA are rare and often accompanied by additional clinical findings. - If celiac disease is suspected, further testing (e.g., endoscopy with biopsy) is typically required for confirmation. If you’re looking for more specific studies, I recommend searching PubMed or other medical databases using terms like "elevated tTG-IgA non-celiac" or "tTG-IgA in non-celiac conditions." Let me know if you’d like help with that!
    • MaryMJ
      Water filters and gluten

      By MaryMJ · Posted

      I called zero water and they state their filters do not contain gluten or gluten containing ingredients. 
    • trents
      What should I do with these test results?

      By trents · Posted

      I agree. Doesn't look like you have celiac disease. Your elevated DGP-IGG must be due to something else. And it was within normal at that after your gluten challenge so it is erratic and doesn't seem to be tied to gluten consumption.
    • Jack Common
      How many grams is there in one slice of wheat bread?

      By Jack Common · Posted

      Hello! I want to share my situation. I had symptoms like some food intolerance, diarrhea, bloating, belching one year ago. I thought I could have celiac disease so I did the blood tests. The results were ambiguous for me so I saw the doctor and he said I needed to do tests to check whether I had any parasites as well. It turned out I had giardiasis. After treating it my symptoms didn't disappear immediately. And I decided to start a gluten free diet despite my doctor said I didn't have it. After some time symptoms disappeared but that time it wasn't unclear whether I'd had them because of eliminating gluten or that parasite. The symptoms for both are very similar. Giardiasis also damages the small intestine. The only way to check this was to start eating bread again as I thought. Now about my results.   These are my first test results (almost a year ago) when I had symptoms: The Tissue Transglutaminase IgA antibody - 0.5 U/ml (for the lab I did the tests 0.0 - 3.0 is normal) The Tissue Transglutaminase IgG antibody - 6.6 U/ml (for the lab I did the tests 0.0 - 3.0 is normal) Immunoglobulin A - 1.91 g/l (for the lab I did the tests 0.7 to 4 g/l is normal) IgA Endomysial antibody (EMA) - < 1:10 titer (for the lab I did the tests < 1:10 titer is normal) IgG Endomysial antibody (EMA) - < 1:10 titer (for the lab I did the tests < 1:10 titer is normal) Deamidated gliadin peptide IgA - 0.3 U/ml (for the lab I did the tests 0.0 - 6.0 is normal) Deamidated gliadin peptide IgG - 46.1 U/ml (for the lab I did the tests 0.0 - 6.0 is normal)   Then I didn't eat gluten for six months. Symptoms disappeared. And I started a gluten challenge. Before the challenge I did some tests. My results: The Tissue Transglutaminase IgG antibody - 0.5 U/ml (for the lab I did the tests < 20 U/ml is normal)) Deamidated gliadin peptide IgG - 28 U/ml (for the lab I did the tests < 20 U/ml is normal)   During the challenge I ate 6 slices of wheat bread. After the challenge my results are: The Tissue Transglutaminase IgA antibody - 2.0 U/ml (for the lab I did the tests < 20 U/ml is normal) The Tissue Transglutaminase IgG antibody - 2.0 U/ml (for the lab I did the tests < 20 U/ml is normal) Immunoglobulin A - 1.31 g/l (for the lab I did the tests 0.7 to 4 g/l is normal) Deamidated gliadin peptide IgA - 2.0 U/ml (for the lab I did the tests < 20 U/ml is normal) Deamidated gliadin peptide IgG - 2.13 U/ml (for the lab I did the tests < 20 U/ml is normal)   To be sure I continued consuming gluten. I ate a lot each day. Two months after I did the tests again. My results I got today are: The Tissue Transglutaminase IgA antibody - 0.7 U/ml (for the lab I did the tests < 20 U/ml is normal) Immunoglobulin A - 1.62 g/l (for the lab I did the tests 0.7 to 4 g/l is normal) Deamidated gliadin peptide IgG - 25.6 U/ml (for the lab I did the tests < 20 U/ml is normal)   Nowadays I didn't have any symptoms except tiredness but I think it's just work. I think it was this parasite because two years ago, for example, and before I didn't have these symptoms and I always ate gluten food. But I'm still not sure especially because the Deamidated gliadin peptide IgG results are sometimes high. What do you think? @Scott Adams
×
×
  • Create New...