gluten/testing

[Guest guest]

Picking up a thread from the gluten vs. SCD discussion...

I found this at http://www.fbr.org/publications/resguide/rg-t_aga.html :

" AGA [anti-gliadin antibodies] are more sensitive, but less specific,

serologic markers for celiac disease compared with IgA anti-endomysial

antibodies (EMA); thus, assay of AGA in combination with EMA may be useful.

In IgA deficiency, IgG AGA is the only useful serologic marker for celiac

disease. "

Now I'm confused. I had a Total Salivary Secretory IgA test that was low.

Does anyone know if this is what is meant by " IgA deficiency " ?

That test was done as part of the Adrenal Stress Index test. The

interpretation of the low SIgA said: " Depressed mucosal immunity with

normal cortisol output. Possible chronic sympathetic overflow leading to

reduced SIgA output. Reduction not related to excess cortisol. Enhanced

susceptibility to mucosal infections. Literature indicates exercise and

phosphorylated serine to temper sympathetic overflow. "

(My cortisol was normal during the day although depressed in early morning

and elevated at night).

-

[Guest guest]

> " AGA [anti-gliadin antibodies] are more sensitive, but less specific,

>serologic markers for celiac disease compared with IgA anti-endomysial

>antibodies (EMA); thus, assay of AGA in combination with EMA may be useful.

>In IgA deficiency, IgG AGA is the only useful serologic marker for celiac

>disease. "

>

>Now I'm confused. I had a Total Salivary Secretory IgA test that was low.

>Does anyone know if this is what is meant by " IgA deficiency " ?

IgA is " Immunoglobulin type A " . It fights viruses, mainly. It comes

in various flavors, one flavor for each protein strand it is geared

to recognize. So, you might have IgA for cold virus 1, another for cold virus 2.

For some reason the body thinks of gluten proteins as viruses, or SOME

people do, so they produce IgA that attacks gluten proteins.

However, for some reason, about 10% of the people who have gluten

intolerance ALSO lack IgA in general. That is a bad thing, and those

folks tend to get infections easily.

However, also for some unknown reason, folks who are gluten intolerant

ALSO usually produce an antibody to your own muscle fibers (or part

of the muscle), called the endymysium. Obviously that is not a good

thing to do, and I have not heard of any good reason why this happens,

but if you have that antibody, chances are you are gluten intolerant also.

That is the EMA.

IgG is Immunoglobulin type G, and it also comes in different flavors.

However the one that reacts to gliadin also seems to react to other things,

if I read it right, so it isn't " specific " . That is, a person with high IgG for

gliadin

might be reacting to something else.

Most of the time, when they test for gluten intolerance, they test for

high IgA readings. But this doesn't work for the 10% of the folks with

low IgA generally, so they often do the other two tests at the same time.

>That test was done as part of the Adrenal Stress Index test. The

>interpretation of the low SIgA said: " Depressed mucosal immunity with

>normal cortisol output. Possible chronic sympathetic overflow leading to

>reduced SIgA output. Reduction not related to excess cortisol. Enhanced

>susceptibility to mucosal infections. Literature indicates exercise and

>phosphorylated serine to temper sympathetic overflow. "

Right. Lack of IgA is not a good thing. I have not heard anyone give

a reason WHY some folks lack it though. Sounds like they are thinking

it might be " chronic sympathetic overflow " ?

>(My cortisol was normal during the day although depressed in early morning

>and elevated at night).

>

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>

-- Heidi