Celiac disease is caused by an immune response to gluten in genetically sensitive individuals.

Clinical Significance

Celiac disease is caused by an immune response to gluten in genetically sensitive individuals. People with celiac disease who eat gluten have higher than normal levels of certain antibodies in their blood. These antibodies are produced by the immune system because it views gluten (the proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley) as a threat. Therefore, the test proposed is measuring your blood level of Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) Antibody (IgA) and Immunoglobulin A (IgA).

You must be on a gluten-containing diet for antibody (blood) testing to be accurate at the testing time. You might consider testing when experiencing the following symptoms:

• Digestive problems like abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, weight loss, or foul-smelling stool
• Unexplained rash, joint symptoms, or anemia