Help with understanding test info

[still..hopeful]

My daughter's endo called today with some results from a few labs they did a month ago. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about these tests. I talked to the doctor's assistant and she only told me the results of the tests. She didn't seem to know a lot about what they meant. The first test was a Prothrombin time/INR. Alyssa's result was 10.6. The second lab was for a TTP(thromboplastin time, partial). Alyssa's result was 28. The nurse said the range for the TTP was 22-34. Is this good, bad, or what? :confused:I am clueless. We still go for the endoscope on Tues.
Angie

[aklap]

Hi Angie,

Labs will have a reference range - they will tell you what's high and what's low. Without them, it's really hard to tell what the results are. It sounds like the TTP test was in range - that usually is a good thing! :)

You can look up what the tests are for if you're interested:

Prothrombin Time, International Normalized Ratio (http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/pt/test.html) - This is for clotting.

Partial Thromboplastin Time (http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/aptt/test.html) - Also for clotting.

Will the docs go over these tests with you? If they don't, call them and ask them to explain what these tests are and what they are for. All to often we as patients are never told what they are testing and what the tests mean - it's highly frustrating. It's always a good idea to get copies of lab work and office notes. All to often, things are missed and patients are never told about tests that are out of range.

None of the tests listed above are for Celiac Disease.

A complete Celiac Blood Panel:

Antigliadin IgA and IgG*
May indicate Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (http://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodid=1417&p_catid=&sid=91hH9H1jiMYsE95-48107483107.80). More info on NCGS (http://thefooddoc.blogspot.com/2007/07/gluten-sensitivity-confirmed-by.html)


Anti-tissue Transglutaminase Antibody (tTG), IgA and/or
Anti-endomysial (EMA)
An indicator of villi damage [slight damage is not always detected].
These tests are highly specific to CD.
However, autoimmune diseases can skew the results of the tTG test (http://www.celiacdisease.net/assets/pdf/CDCFactSheetsAntibodyScreening3.pdf)

It is important to note that some people with Type 1 Diabetes, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and autoimmune liver conditions can have a falsely positive tissue transglutaminase test. For this reason, it is important that tTG test results in people with these conditions be checked with the EMA test. The physician may nevertheless want to obtain an intestinal biopsy if clinically indicated, even if EMA are negative.


Total serum IgA
Rules out IgA deficiency. This must be run to ensure proper IgA test results


Anti-reticulin IgA
Rarely used but, a very thorough doctor will include this



More on Diagnostic Testing (http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/diagnostictesting) can be found in the The Gluten File (http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/)

Clan Thompson's Testing and their Results (http://www.clanthompson.com/exp_doctor_showqs.php3?category=Tests%20and%20Thei r%20Results&category_id=4). This is a really great resource. Please, spend some time looking this over.

Prometheus Labs CeliaPlus (http://www.prometheuslabs.com/products_diagnostics_celiac.asp). Prometheus Labs is a respected and well known lab for processing Celiac Blood Panels. Note: You will be asked if you are medical professional. Of course you are! ;)

Gluten Intolerance Group - Celiac Disease Diagnosis (http://www.gluten.net/celiac.htm#diagnosis)

American Celiac Disease Alliance - Diagnosis (http://americanceliac.org/diagnosis.htm)

Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University (http://www.celiacdiseasecenter.columbia.edu/C_Doctors/C05-Testing.htm)

*The Antigliadin IgA and IgG tests have fallen out of favor due to the lack of specificity [other medical issues can be the cause of these antibodies]. However, some organizations and Doctors do feel these tests are of importance and still include them in their panel of tests. Gluten maybe an issue, and should be investigated a bit further. These tests ARE included in followup testing to determine dietary compliance, so there is value to them.

[still..hopeful]

Now that you mentioned it, they did say they were going to run a test to see how well her blood clotted. When we went for her first follow up with the endo, they said her ttg level was 111. I think that must be high since we are going ahead with the endoscope. They also put her on a multi vitamin because her hemoglobin was 11.6 out of 12.0-16.0 range. We will have to repeat this test to see if the over the counter vitamins are enough or if she needs an iron supplement.