Why Would A Person Without Celiac Have Any Ttg?

[Mezzo]

I just got my 10YO DS's celiac panel results back. Everything is normal. But why does he have numbers for TTG at all if he doesn't have celiac? The test says that <20.0 U is normal. His numbers are 2.2 for IgG TTG and 3.2 and 0.4 for IgA TTG (they seem to have run that one twice). If those are specific antibodies for celiac, why would a normal person have them in even low levels?

His endomysial antibody test was negative. His IgA levels were normal.

His symptoms seem suggestive of celiac, but his blood tests don't. I don't like the idea of putting him through a biopsy. I just don't know what else it could be.

[ShayFL]

If your Mother's intuition says Celiac. Then why not try a gluten-free diet for a few weeks and see what happens? If symptoms go away, you have your answer. I think your son's health is more important than an official dx. But that is just me.

[ravenwoodglass]

I also agree it is time to do a gluten-free trial. If he is symptomatic that is what I would do if you are not going to go the biopsy route. What you may want to do is keep a detailed log of what happens during the time that he is gluten-free. Note his starting symptoms and note his progress on the diet. Include behavioral and learning related symptoms also. You could do a chart with spots to check off stuff like, rashes, irritability, trouble sleeping, depression, upset tummy, stomach pain, D, C, troubles with school work (like difficulty understanding or doing homework), headaches, runny nose or allergy symptoms, leg pain, clumsiness etc. Also do a diet diary that can be referenced back to the symptom chart. This may help both you and the doctor clearly see if the diet is having an effect on him. Celiac is so much more than just the GI upset that many doctors are looking for and can effect so many body systems that the chart may make that more clear for the doctor.

I hope he gets some relief soon.

[Mezzo]

Thank you!

We actually did try a 2-week gluten-free diet in March. He seemed to improve by the end of that time, but it was somewhat subjective. His gas and bloating were reduced (it seemed like quite a difference, really), he had a good appetite for a change, and he seemed to be able to focus and pay attention better. It was enough to decide that I needed to bring him to a Dr. to start pursuing this. Well, then our house sold and we moved, so I didn't want to deal with it until this summer. We do have an appointment now with a pediatric gastroenterologist, so I hope they will be able to make sense of things. The family practice Dr. we started with only ordered an IgG anti-gliadin at first!

I should make sure to tell the specialist that we tried a brief gluten-free diet that seemed to have an effect. I tried it with my DD, too, since she has had a rash on her elbows, behind, and knees for years, and it actually cleared up by the end of that two weeks, too.

Is it easier to go through a skin biopsy to get definite results? My DS also has a persistent, itchy rash on his legs.

[psawyer]

I just got my 10YO DS's celiac panel results back. Everything is normal. But why does he have numbers for TTG at all if he doesn't have celiac? The test says that <20.0 U is normal. His numbers are 2.2 for IgG TTG and 3.2 and 0.4 for IgA TTG (they seem to have run that one twice). If those are specific antibodies for celiac, why would a normal person have them in even low levels? .

Most science is inexact. If you adhere to the conviction that all humans are, to some degree, intolerant to grains, then something above zero should be expected in the general population (control sample). A level significantly higher than that of the control sample is indicative of a different tolerance, which in this case is Celiac Disease.