Recovering from Arthritis

[ClaudiaYG]

Can you explain this please, I would like to understand.
I thought celiac disease was diagnosed by a blood test after having done a gluten food challenge and the gluten anti-bodies are then tested for in the blood. I assume you are on a gluten free diet so why would the doctor test for celiacs?

The doctor sent me for celiac disease tests because my Immunoglobulin A (IgA) always come back undetectable or extremely low.

And from what I understood, those with celiac disease have very low IgA.

The doctor just wanted to make sure my IgA wasn't due to celiac disease.

 

[gottathink]

The doctor sent me for celiac disease tests because my Immunoglobulin A (IgA) always come back undetectable or extremely low.

And from what I understood, those with celiac disease have very low IgA.

The doctor just wanted to make sure my IgA wasn't due to celiac disease.

How did the doctor test for celiac disease? Did you do a food challenge then get a blood test ? Or is there another way to test for celiac disease?

If there is another way I’m interested to know for clinical reasons.

 

[gottathink]

Even using alternative to IgA , which is an IgG test you still would have needed to do a food challenge eating gluten for 4-8 weeks to avoid a false negative test.
Unless you are not on a gluten free diet then the test is valid.

Edit: Am I missing something?

 

[ClaudiaYG]

How did the doctor test for celiac disease? Did you do a food challenge then get a blood test ? Or is there another way to test for celiac disease?

If there is another way I’m interested to know for clinical reasons.

I had a food intolerance test done a while ago, and I don't have intolerance.

Actually, I rarely have stomach problems.

The tests he ordered were:
IgG transglutaminase antibodies
IgG gliadin antibodies.

I don't have any symptoms of celiac disease, but my doctor thought it was very strange that my IgA was so low.

As part of my rheumatoid arthritis management, I always have blood tests for IgA, IgG, and IgM.

 

[gottathink]

I had a food intolerance test done a while ago, and I don't have intolerance.

Actually, I rarely have stomach problems.

The tests he ordered were:
IgG transglutaminase antibodies
IgG gliadin antibodies.

I don't have any symptoms of celiac disease, but my doctor thought it was very strange that my IgA was so low.

As part of my rheumatoid arthritis management, I always have blood tests for IgA, IgG, and IgM.

Okay, I assumed you would have been on a gluten free diet, so take it that you aren’t.

 

[ClaudiaYG]

Okay, I assumed you would have been on a gluten free diet, so take it that you aren’t.

I haven't eaten gluten for years.
I asked my doctor if I needed to eat gluten again for the test, and he said no.

I've never had symptoms of celiac disease, even when I ate gluten.
And a part of me knew the tests would come back negative.

The celiac tests were done to find a reason for my low IgA.

My IgA is low because of rheumatoid arthritis.

 

[gottathink]

I haven't eaten gluten for years.
I asked my doctor if I needed to eat gluten again for the test, and he said no.

That is the part I don’t understand and makes no sense. I thought you can only get a positive celiacs test if you eat gluten.

A simple blood test is available to test for celiac disease. People with celiac disease who eat gluten have higher than normal levels of certain antibodies in their blood. These antibodies are produced by the immune system because it views gluten (the proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley) as a threat. You must be on a gluten-containing diet for antibody (blood) testing to be accurate.

Celiac Disease Screening | Celiac Disease Foundation

A simple blood test is available to screen for celiac disease. People with celiac disease who eat gluten have higher than normal levels of certain antibodies in their blood. These antibodies are produced by the immune system because it views gluten as a threat.

celiac.org

This is not relevant to your case but demonstrates that doctors do not understand the test for celiac disease.

Edit- it makes sense if the doctor is checking for a reaction to unknown gluten in your diet. If no exaction no unknown sources of gluten causing coeliac disease. The danger is that people think they don’t have coeliacs from a false negative and then start eating gluten.

 

[Deliverance]

Thanks for reading, and hugs to everyone.

I am glad that you have cured shingles, and that the polyarthritis is regressing. So much pain with all this! You are a hero to me. My sincere congratulations, enjoy

 

[Tomiro]

That is the part I don’t understand and makes no sense. I thought you can only get a positive celiacs test if you eat gluten.

That is also what I was told, when I asked my doctor about testing for celiac disease. I would have to eat gluten for a month before doing the test. So I politely declined.