Elevated DGP antibodies (and especially DGP-IgG) are often seen in patients with celiac disease on a gluten-containing diet. They appear to have approximately the same value of the tTG-IgA antibody test. However, it appears that in very young children (i.e., in the first two years of life) DGP-IgG do provide a better test for celiac… Read more »
(Updated .)Keyword: screening
Why do you insist I eat gluten for a diagnosis when I feel better on a gluten-free diet?
Five reasons exist as to why someone might feel better on a gluten-free diet. It’s crucial to understand which of the five is the cause in order to implement a safe dietary program. – Celiac disease – Non-celiac gluten sensitivity – Wheat allergy – Sensitivity to foods rich in FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and… Read more »
(Updated .)I stopped eating gluten right before my blood screening. Will that impact my results?
To get the most accurate screening results, we recommend 12 weeks of daily gluten intake prior to blood testing. If you’ve followed a gluten-containing diet, as recommended, but went gluten-free a few days prior to your screening, it’s likely that you’ll still see accurate results from your tests.
(Updated .)How much gluten should be consumed prior to being screened for celiac disease?
It’s best to continue a normal, gluten-containing diet before being screened and diagnosed. If a gluten-free diet has been followed for more than a few weeks, then we recommend eating at least 1 serving of gluten (1/2 slice of bread or a cracker, for example) every day for 12 weeks prior to a blood test… Read more »
(Updated .)What does a “weak positive” blood test result for celiac disease mean?
Each lab defines “weak positive” differently. Unfortunately, diagnosis is not always a clear cut positive or negative. If you receive a weak positive, please work with your medical professional to determine the next best course of action. The diagnosis of celiac disease is like an iceberg; the obvious, symptomatic, yet smallest, part of it exists… Read more »
(Updated .)Are blood tests reliable for infants?
Blood tests aren’t always accurate in children with symptoms younger than three years of age. Children often must have been eating wheat- or barley-based cereals for some time, up to one year, before they generate an autoimmune response to gluten that shows up in testing. A pediatric gastroenterologist should evaluate young children who are experiencing… Read more »
(Updated .)I’m scheduled to have a skin biopsy to screen for celiac disease, should I maintain a gluten-containing diet similar to those who are being screened via blood or intestinal biopsy?
Yes.
(Updated .)Who should be tested for celiac disease?
Those who fall into the following categories should be tested for celiac disease: Children older than 3 and adults who are 1st-degree relatives of someone with celiac disease Persistent miscarriages or infertility Type I Diabetes Mellitus Autoimmune Thyroid Disease Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Asthma Multiple Sclerosis Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Down Syndrome Turner Syndrome William’s Syndrome… Read more »
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