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

Is a TTG IgA of 52 considered mild or borderline?


LCArseneault

Recommended Posts

LCArseneault Rookie

I’m just trying to figure out where my levels stand, if this is considered borderline, or if this is a clear positive? 

Has anyone with a similar level ever had a positive TTG and negative biopsy/told it wasn’t celiac? I’m currently waiting on the biopsy but it’s 3+ months for the scope where I am and debating just going gluten free now - the TTG was done as part of a recurrent pregnancy loss after our third miscarriage, and so doing whatever I can to improve our chances of getting and staying pregnant is really important to me… if it’s 3 + months before I can even START to heal my gut, it’ll be 6+ months before our chances improve and we’ve already been trying for a year. Everything else in our RPL workup has come back normal. Would be willing to do a scope after hypothetical baby…


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



trents Grand Master

What was your tTG-IGA score? But to answer your question, yes. We sometimes do get forum participants who have positive blood work but negative biopsy. Seems to happen more often with children but we do get some adults who report this. I would assume this phenomenon indicates the celiac disease was caught in a very early stage before damage is done to the SB lining. Do you have other symptoms besides fertility issues that would suggest celiac disease?

Is your age a factor here with regard to wanting to go gluten-free before a biopsy can be arranged. Is the time window of child bearing age starting to close? Sorry, hope that question isn't too personal.

LCArseneault Rookie
15 minutes ago, trents said:

What was your tTG-IGA score? But to answer your question, yes. We sometimes do get forum participants who have positive blood work but negative biopsy. Seems to happen more often with children but we do get some adults who report this. I would assume this phenomenon indicates the celiac disease was caught in a very early stage before damage is done to the SB lining. Do you have other symptoms besides fertility issues that would suggest celiac disease?

Is your age a factor here with regard to wanting to go gluten-free before a biopsy can be arranged. Is the time window of child bearing age starting to close? Sorry, hope that question isn't too personal.

It was 52. I do have some GI symptoms (loose BMs once-twice a day, gassy, have had really itchy undiagnosed rashes on my legs on/off for years), my GI symptoms have worsened over the last few months but I've been so caught up in my fertility issues to really notice or care. 

It's not so much that my age is a factor, but we'd hoped to have an age gap of 2 years between kids, and our daughter is already two, and with our track record of initially taking over a year to get pregnant the first time and then losing 3 out of 4 of our pregnancies, taking any time off feels detrimental. 

Basically wondering how a level of 52 stands, is that considered borderline? Or is that fairly clear-cut? From what I'm reading the chances of a false positive are quite low. 

trents Grand Master

What was the reference range used by the lab? Different labs use different reference ranges for negative/positive.

LCArseneault Rookie
Just now, trents said:

What was the reference range used by the lab? Different labs use different reference ranges for negative/positive.

20 is considered the upper limit of normal at the lab it was done at. 

trents Grand Master
(edited)

Then I would not consider 52 an equivocal score. But there are some things besides celiac disease that can cause elevated tTG-IGA. But other causes are fairly uncommon.

You might google, "What can cause elevated tTG-IGA scores besides celiac disease?" and "What can cause villous atrophy besides celiac disease?" Some other diseases and some medications can damage villi and cause inflammation. Crohn's Disease is one, I believe.

Edited by trents
LCArseneault Rookie
1 hour ago, trents said:

Then I would not consider 52 an equivocal score. But there are some things besides celiac disease that can cause elevated tTG-IGA. But other causes are fairly uncommon.

You might google, "What can cause elevated tTG-IGA scores besides celiac disease?" and "What can cause villous atrophy besides celiac disease?" Some other diseases and some medications can damage villi and cause inflammation.

Thank you so much. For people who've gone gluten free already before their scope, what is the common amount of time before the scope they're instructed to eat gluten? 


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



trents Grand Master

The Mayo Clinic guideline for the prescope/biopsy gluten challenge is the amount of gluten equivalent to two slices of wheat bread daily for two weeks.

scanlanmd Apprentice
On 2/20/2022 at 7:15 AM, LCArseneault said:

I’m just trying to figure out where my levels stand, if this is considered borderline, or if this is a clear positive? 

Has anyone with a similar level ever had a positive TTG and negative biopsy/told it wasn’t celiac? I’m currently waiting on the biopsy but it’s 3+ months for the scope where I am and debating just going gluten free now - the TTG was done as part of a recurrent pregnancy loss after our third miscarriage, and so doing whatever I can to improve our chances of getting and staying pregnant is really important to me… if it’s 3 + months before I can even START to heal my gut, it’ll be 6+ months before our chances improve and we’ve already been trying for a year. Everything else in our RPL workup has come back normal. Would be willing to do a scope after hypothetical baby…

Hey there!

Newly diagnosed with a level of 60 (60 being indicated at the lab as being "high"). My doctor, along with other blood indications, diagnosed me as definitively having celiac disease. Keep in mind, I have struggled with symptoms for nearly a decade and have reduced MANY "allergy containing" foods prior to getting impromptu tested again. 

Due to the pandemic, getting in for a biopsy would take longer than usual where I am from, so I chose to begin the diet immediately. After almost 3 weeks of gluten-free life, I have been having solid bowel movements, something that I have not had in almost 10 years!! Of course, I still have much healing to do and many other symptoms to absolve, however, I am happy with my decision to begin the diet immediately (cross the biopsy road when I get to it).

I hope my experience may help you make the decision that is best for you!

Meg.

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

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      128,831
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    chaddy
    Newest Member
    chaddy
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.1k
    • Total Posts
      71.3k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Have you had a DNA test to look for the most commonly occurring Celiac genes?   There's some scientific evidence that Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity is a precursor to Celiac Disease in genetically predisposed people. Which foods do you react to?  How do you react?
    • thejayland10
      You are right, I just feel I may have not been on top of it and Ive caused damage for years without knowing. Seems like nothing though?   
    • trents
      No, one crumb from a month before the blood test would not materially affect the results of the test. I sense you are devoting a lot more "worry energy" to this than it deserves. That will do you more harm than a tick over normal on the TTG-IGA score.
    • thejayland10
      Sometimes I have a bit of stomach, discomfort, anxiety, tiredness, and soreness but nothing that stops by normal day to day activities. I work a ton and am very active so likely it is related to that and not my celiac but unsure with everyone's symptoms and stories I see online.  I will definitely start doing this every year from now on. Could one crumb of gluten from a month before that blood test caused that spike ? I am trying to really trace back and think 
    • trents
      The do what? Give you a gluten-like reaction you mean?
×
×
  • Create New...