anybody explain kids celiac blood work?

[kpk]

My daughter had bloodwork done as part of a well child check up, she's 6. The results say "probable celiac and consider a biopsy". They've already scheduled an appointment with a GI specialist - but it's not for 3 months.

Her Tissue Transglutaminase Ab, IgA, S came back at 12.5 which is high and her Immunoglobulin A (IgA), S came in at 107 which falls within normal...but says celiac probable? Looks like those numbers could also flag dermatitis herpetiformis...and she's always had SUPER sensitive skin. She has no other symptoms.

j/w if anyone here has an educated opinion on these numbers that I don't have to wait 3 months to hear.

 

[307]

The skin condition is seen in Celiac patients.

The tissue transglutaminase test is both sensitive and specific.

Welcome to the world of Gluten Free. It's really not too bad after you get used to it.

Sincerely,

Fellow Celiac, 23 years gluten free

 

[307]

If you're doing some diet changes, try to help her focus on all of the things she CAN eat, rather than focusing on all the things she can't have. It's a mental shift that will hopefully help her navigate a tough change for a little critter.

Also, be very thankful for the fad diet and attention on gluten in the last decade. It's made eating gluten free infinitely easier, since it's known and labeled much, MUCH better than it was 20 years ago. There are also many many many more gf things available in stores.

But I"m sorry she's going through this. It's not exactly easy, even though it's easier now.

 

[Willie IV]

My wife and son are celiac. Celiac symptoms vary in individuals with some being super sensitive to gluten and others not as bad. For example, my wife and son can eat foods that may have some cross contamination (think french fries cooked in same oil as chicken strips) and they have no adverse effects. Some people aren't as lucky and get seriously ill with only a very small amount of gluten ingested. Hopefully your daughter isn't that sensitive. Skin irritations/rash are part of it but clear up pretty easily following a GF diet. And 307 above is correct.... being gluten free 20 years ago was almost impossible but now is easy. Our whole family eats that way and probably for the better!

 

[kpk]

@Willie IV that's kind of what I'm wondering is if there are varying degrees to this as she has no symptoms we've noticed, and she never complains her stomach hurts or anything of the sort. She eats a ton of bread, pizza, pasta, etc. My nephew on the other hand wasn't growing, always sick, and his TTG number was well over 100. Neighbor kid was sick all the time until he went GF too.

Does it just not make a difference if the test result is over 10? Is a 12.5 the same as over 100?

 

[Willie IV]

In my experience with this, the biopsy is ordered to confirm the bloodwork. Diagnosing Celiac is tricky and goes undiagnosed often - although less these days. It took my wife months and several docs to get diagnosed 22 years ago. Once we knew, she saw immediate relief with a GF diet. Hang in there man. GF can be a challenge for a kid cuz friends are eating cookies, donuts etc and your kid has to make different choices. It's a challenge.

 

[Ucsdryder]

@sndmn11