I have a question on testing for celiac that some of you might have an answer for. I tested negative for celiac on both blood and stool samples. I also had a small bowel enterography that the radiologist said was near perfect. My question is two-fold; Is one test for celiac more reliable than the other? And would celiac show up on a CT of the small bowel? Thanks everyone.
John
Question on Celiac Test Results
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Hi John,
The celiac blood tests are worthless for detecting the type of gluten-sensitivity that we have. Those tests will only detect mature, (IOW, fully-developed), celiac sprue. The question is, "which lab did the stool test, and if it wasn't Enterolab, in Dallas, TX, what did they test for? If it wasn't IgA anti-gliadin antibodies, that test may have been worthless, as well. IOW, the only tests for food-sensitivities, that are accurate, and reliable, that we're aware of, are the ones offered by Enterolab, and those tests check for very specific IgA antibodies. Mediator release testing can be used in conjunction with a followup elimination diet and food testing series, to detect many food-sensitivities, but the MRT is very poor at detecting gluten-sensitivity, because this is a blood test, also.
A small bowel x-ray series is often used to detect perforations, stenoses, fistulas, twists, etc., or other gross physiological issues. It cannot detect histologic changes. A CT scan can show similar issues, and even allow things such as relative wall thickness estimations, but there is no way that it can accurately detect any of the histological changes that are used as diagnostic criteria for celiac disease or MC.
When I had my first CT scan, my gut was so "eat up" with gluten damage that the radiologist mentioned that part of my colon was flattened and the walls were much thicker than normal, but no one ever said a word about gluten-sensitivity or celiac disease.
They didn't have a clue.
Tex
The celiac blood tests are worthless for detecting the type of gluten-sensitivity that we have. Those tests will only detect mature, (IOW, fully-developed), celiac sprue. The question is, "which lab did the stool test, and if it wasn't Enterolab, in Dallas, TX, what did they test for? If it wasn't IgA anti-gliadin antibodies, that test may have been worthless, as well. IOW, the only tests for food-sensitivities, that are accurate, and reliable, that we're aware of, are the ones offered by Enterolab, and those tests check for very specific IgA antibodies. Mediator release testing can be used in conjunction with a followup elimination diet and food testing series, to detect many food-sensitivities, but the MRT is very poor at detecting gluten-sensitivity, because this is a blood test, also.
A small bowel x-ray series is often used to detect perforations, stenoses, fistulas, twists, etc., or other gross physiological issues. It cannot detect histologic changes. A CT scan can show similar issues, and even allow things such as relative wall thickness estimations, but there is no way that it can accurately detect any of the histological changes that are used as diagnostic criteria for celiac disease or MC.
When I had my first CT scan, my gut was so "eat up" with gluten damage that the radiologist mentioned that part of my colon was flattened and the walls were much thicker than normal, but no one ever said a word about gluten-sensitivity or celiac disease.
They didn't have a clue.Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Sheila
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I also tested negative for celiac using the blood test. To satisfy myself, I took the gene test offered by Entero Lab and found that I do have the celiac gene and gluten intolerance gene. My GI looked at the test in wonder and said, "Wow, you do have celiac disease". The test isn't very expensive and I think it was well worth the cost.
Sheila
Sheila
To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.
A person who never made a mistake never tried something new. Einstein
A person who never made a mistake never tried something new. Einstein
I agree with Tex here that the celiac tests are worthless. If the odds truly are that one in 100-130 test positive for the main celiac genes and research shows that one in 3 have gluten sensitivity, then why don't they routinely test for both, as they do in some Northern European countries that have nationalized health coverage?
IMO, the answer to that question is pretty obvious. Our health system depends on chronically ill people and research is largely controlled by the drug companies. They don't care. They want us to be sick, it's how they survive. It's business.
IMO, the answer to that question is pretty obvious. Our health system depends on chronically ill people and research is largely controlled by the drug companies. They don't care. They want us to be sick, it's how they survive. It's business.
Resolved MC symptoms successfully w/L-Glutamine, Probiotics and Vitamins, GF since 8/'09. DX w/MC 10/'09.
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draperygoddess
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I have come across some articles in medical journals that show an unfortunate trend in our national healthcare system: if there's not an obvious indicator of a more serious condition, go with the easy explanation and skip the expensive testing. Doctors are counseled to look for certain "red flags" when a patient presents with symptoms, and even if the symptoms fit the condition, if the patient doesn't exhibit one or more of those red flags, the doctor generally won't test for the condition. Patients who aren't satisfied with the "IBS" explanation are often labelled as difficult. IMO, most severe symptoms of MC could have been avoided if the doctors had only be willing to look a little harder. Unfortunately, once the damage is done, it's much harder to get the symptoms under control.
Cynthia
"Can we fix it? YES WE CAN!" -Bob the Builder
"Can we fix it? YES WE CAN!" -Bob the Builder
Connie wrote:IMO, the answer to that question is pretty obvious. Our health system depends on chronically ill people and research is largely controlled by the drug companies. They don't care. They want us to be sick, it's how they survive. It's business.
Sad, but obviously true.Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.