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Newbie Here With One Celiac Test To Be Positive-Need Help!

Jen-1984

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Jen-1984 Apprentice
Jen-1984
Posted

Hi, I have stalked around on this forum for a while and finally decided to sign up today and ask all of you seasoned celiacers a question about my lab work. I have had some serious neurological issues, mainly my eyes being very sensitive to light and feeling dizzy, so my neurologist ran a panel of blood work on me and besides a low Vit. D, a slight titer of dsDNA which is so low considered neg. only one came back positive. This was the Deamidated Gliadin Peptide IgG. It was weakly positive at 24. 30 being strong postive. So I googled what Deamidated Gliadin Peptide was and a whole slew of celiac articles popped up. I had a biopsy in 2008 which I was told was negative for celiac disease, but I think my Gastro only took one biopsy. I want to be realistic here and not keep barking up the same tree if I don't have celiac disease, but I was shocked to see the DGP IgG positive. Do you guys think this test could correlate with other possible diseases? They did do other celiac tests like the IgA and Ttg test which were in normal ranges.Endomysial test also normal.

I guess what I want to know is, with this one test being positive, should I look further into celiac disease or should I not worry about it? Thanks for any input in advance. :rolleyes:

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mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Was this one of the articles you read?: (excerpted in part)

Open Original Shared Link

"The old gliadin test. In the 1990s, the gliadin antibody test was developed. Although most celiacs had a positive IgG-gliadin antibody test, high levels of this antibody were found in about 10% of the normal population. Consequently, gliadin testing was considered non-specific” from the point of view of diagnosing celiac disease. Mistakenly, this led to IgG-gliadin being maligned as a useless and non-specific test .

Gluten sensitivity. The reality, however, is that an elevated IgG-gliadin antibody specifically means that the person is immunologically reacting to gluten. International research, including my own, has demonstrated that high gliadin anybody levels are frequently associated with clinical disease without the gut damage of celiac disease. This is now known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or the gluten syndrome.

Because of the poor predictive value of IgG-gliadin antibodies to detect celiac disease, this old gliadin test has been widely abandoned in the medical community – to the extent that most laboratories do not offer to do this test. But this is about to change.

DGP. This new deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP) antibody is the next big step along the journey. It is more sensitive and specific than EMA or tTG for the diagnosis of celiac disease. Unfortunately, its name is now being confused with the early old gliadin test.

Nicknames

Shortening names is universal, we call these nicknames. Whenever I am in Australia, I introduce myself as Rodney, but my friends call me Rod .

The same name strategy is being used for the DGP test. Instead of its full name, it has been shortened to the gliadin test – the identical name for the old gliadin test. But they test for very different things:

The new DGP gliadin test accurately indicates the gut damage of celiac disease.

The old IgG-gliadin antibody test indicates immunological reaction to gluten, and can help diagnose the gluten syndrome.

This is how to interpret what these gliadin antibodies mean:

A positive old test (IgG-gliadin antibody) usually means gluten sensitivity.

A positive new test (DGP-IgG and DGP-IgA) means celiac disease.

A negative old test usually means that gluten is unlikely to be a problem.

A negative new test means that celiac disease is unlikely at the time of the test, but it does not rule out gluten sensitivity."

I have heard Dr. Ford speak, and I believe that with a weakly positive DGP you should have another Endoscopy, this time with enough biopsy samples to have a hope of finding the disease. This is if you absolutely have to have the official diagnosis. If it were me, I would consider that I had celiac disease and put an end to it. I would definitely not dismiss it.

Jen-1984 Apprentice
Jen-1984
Posted
  • Author

Wow, thats alot more cut and dry, and seems to be very specific for celiac. I am a little shocked to be quite honest and thought with the neg biopsy from 5 years ago that I had a different unknown disease. I haven't gone completely gluten-free because I think I have been in denial somewhat. I honestly don't know if I could go through another biopsy, and maybe I should just really accept that I should cut out the gluten and be serious about it. I don't mean to sound like a baby here, but going gluten free has been harder than I thought it would be and so I waiver with cutting it out. I guess this article really explains what my blood test meant. I just wish my doctor who ran the test would have taken the result seriously and talked to me about it. Thank you for such an in depth answer, it was extremely helpful.

powerofpositivethinking Community Regular
powerofpositivethinking
Posted

hi! i had a full celiac panel done by Labcorp, and my DGP igG was also the only thing that came back positive. For my lab, a strong positive was greater than 30 and I scored a 43. I've been researching info to get ready for my follow-up GI appointment and found this article to be very helpful Open Original Shared Link

page 8 gives a clear cut diagram that says if you test positive for either ttG igA/EMA or DGP igG, a small bowel biopsy is warranted. I plan on giving my GI a copy at my next apt. Hope you find it helpful!

Jen-1984 Apprentice
Jen-1984
Posted
  • Author

hi! i had a full celiac panel done by Labcorp, and my DGP igG was also the only thing that came back positive. For my lab, a strong positive was greater than 30 and I scored a 43. I've been researching info to get ready for my follow-up GI appointment and found this article to be very helpful Open Original Shared Link

page 8 gives a clear cut diagram that says if you test positive for either ttG igA/EMA or DGP igG, a small bowel biopsy is warranted. I plan on giving my GI a copy at my next apt. Hope you find it helpful!

Thanks for the info, I am excited to read it! Have you gone gluten-free and feel better and do you have any symptoms?

powerofpositivethinking Community Regular
powerofpositivethinking
Posted

here's a link to the thread about my test results and questions

my main one is continuous bloating and frequent constipation, but in the WGO paper, they are listed in the non-classic symptoms portion on pg. 7.

i've tried gluten free for three weeks and things started to improve, but then I read that you needed to be on gluten for the testing, so i started eating it again.

  • 1 month later...
powerofpositivethinking Community Regular
powerofpositivethinking
Posted

Jen, what did you end up being diagnosed with?  Did you get an EGD done?  Hope you're feeling better!!

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    • 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
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      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!
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    • 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
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