<<Disclaimer:  Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Jane Oswaks wrote:

> My test results came back as follows:
>    Anti-endomysium - negative
>    Anti-Gliadin, IgA - negative
>    Anti-Gliadin, IgG - positive 1:19
> My doctor doesn't think this means anything...do you???

First of all, let me make it clear that this is the opinion of layperson.

You indicated that your daughter was diagnosed as a celiac about five
years ago.  During that time, she has presumably been on a gluten-free
diet.  What about you?  Odds are, you've been on a low-gluten diet, a
natural consequence of living with a celiac.  If you are an undiagnosed
celiac yourself, then your system is not getting as much gluten as most
undiagnosed celiacs would get.  As a result, your immune system might
very well show less of a response--thus the ambiguous test results.

I'd hesitate to dismiss these results too quickly.  Perhaps you should
make a conscious effort to eat a lot of gluten for the next several
months, and try the blood tests again.  I believe the IgA level responds
fairly quickly to the presence or absence of gluten in a celiac's diet,
so if you are an undiagnosed celiac you might test positive for IgA
after an intentional gluten-challenge.  Also, there would be more damage
to the villi, so that a follow-up small intestine biopsy would be more
conclusive.

I'm in a similar situation.  I have the genetic markers for celiac
disease, but so far I don't have the disease.  However, since I live
with two children that do have celiac disease, I probably consume much
less gluten than the average.  If I ever do show symptoms of celiac
disease, I'm probably going to have to make a conscious effort to add
gluten to my diet so I can conclusively prove whether or not I have it.

If I were you I'd pursue this further, in spite of your doctor's apparent
lack of concern about the chances of you having celiac disease.

--------- Jim Lyles ----------
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---- Holly, Michigan, USA ----