ASCA IGG/IGA Tests

[jcw1212]

I recently tested positive for the ASCA IGG/IGA test, very HIGH!!! IGA was 65 (range 0-25) IGG was 53.2 (range 0-30), Also the Gliadin Antibody IGA was positive (26) (range 0-17). I have went to a gluten free diet which has helped some! I had a colonoscopy and other then 2 polyps (benign) everything was just ducky no sign of crohn's!!! I am trying to figure out what else could make the ASCA IGG/IGA as high as they are. My doctors have NO CLUE!!! I've had joint pain, low grade fevers, rashes, muscle pain and fatigue for over 2 years and no one knows why!! My sed rate, c reative protien and many many other tests are all normal, including 2 CT's. But i'm still in pain. All of this started with a pain under my right rib, and my gall bladder was removed, 9 months later the pain came back and has been there again now for almost a year. One doctor told me that the high levels don't mean anything, i guess i might believe that if i didn't have all of these unexplained problems. I have tried many, many things to aleveate the pain and it always comes back, especially if i try to exersice (which all the doctors suggest). I am boarderline anemic and recently just over came vitamin D deficency....hoping that, that was the cause...No luck...still in pain.
What other autoimmune disorders could cause those kind of levels?
Thanks for any input

[RiverRat3]

Are your liver levels good? (AST, ALT, Alkaline Phosphates) I had many of the same symptoms and just recently watched my liver enzymes start to sore into the 400 levels which led to a diagnosis of PBC of the liver. It's taken three years to diagnose because the PBC was slowly progressing. A liver biopsy assisted in the diagnosis too.

[jcw1212]

I am very careful about my GF diet!! As for casein, I try really hard to avoid it! Medications (checked) all are fine. The diet has helped, but not completely! I've thought about having those tests ran again, now that i've been on the diet for 4 months. I've had CT scans and since they don't see anything on there, they will not do a ECRP which i have asked for. I go back to the doc in a week and i'm going to ask him to do one and insist on it!! I'm tired of the pain, it started last March and hasn't let up. I am nauseated sometimes but I just deal with it. I do get a rash that they believe is the rash that goes with Celiac but they aren't sure!! Since my small bowel biopsy and colon biopsy were all normal they just kind of patted me on the head and sent me on my way!! UGH!!!

[CalGal]

If you check some of the scientific literature you'll find that the ASCA test is often positive in those with celiac disease. Make sure you're very strict with that diet and don't eat any hidden gluten which can be found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. Also check any medications you're taking for hidden gluten.

Also make sure that you're not cross-reactive to casein, the major protein in dairy. Many with celiac are.

Celiac disease can change gallbladder ejection fractions, so I wonder if that wasn't tied in with the celiac issues. However, if you're still have similar pain, make sure that the docs check your common bile duct for retained or developing stones/sludge. The pain could also be due to spasms of the common bile duct or sphincter of Oddi. There are some anti-spasm meds you may want to consider - talk to your doc about that form of treatment. If you find that narcotic-based pain meds cause an increase in discomfort, talk to your doc about SOD, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.