The Deamidated Gliadin Peptide Immunoglobulin A (DGP IGA) marker plays a pivotal role in the celiac disease diagnostic process, offering unique insights that complement other testing methods in a celiac panel. This test specifically measures the IGA antibodies against deamidated gliadin peptides, which are a form of gliadin (a key component of gluten) that has been modified during the digestive process. The presence of these antibodies indicates an immune response to gluten, characteristic of celiac disease.
What sets the DGP IGA test apart is its high sensitivity and specificity, particularly in certain patient groups. It is especially valuable in young children, under the age of two, where classic celiac disease markers like Tissue Transglutaminase Immunoglobulin A (TTG IGA) may not be as reliable. In these cases, DGP IGA can provide a more accurate reflection of the immune response to gluten. Additionally, DGP IGA testing is beneficial in cases where individuals have already started a gluten-free diet prior to testing, as it can remain positive for a longer period after gluten has been removed from the diet, unlike TTG IGA which may quickly normalize.
In the broader context of celiac disease testing, the DGP IGA test is typically used in conjunction with TTG IGA. The combined use of these tests enhances the overall diagnostic accuracy, particularly when there is a suspicion of celiac disease despite negative or borderline TTG IGA results. However, elevated DGP IGA levels alone are not definitive for celiac disease. A positive result must be corroborated with other clinical findings, patient symptoms, and possibly an intestinal biopsy, which remains the gold standard for diagnosing celiac disease.
Furthermore, while elevated DGP IGA levels are strongly suggestive of celiac disease, they can occasionally be seen in other conditions. Therefore, a positive DGP IGA test should always be interpreted in the context of the entire clinical picture by healthcare professionals.
In summary, the DGP IGA marker is a valuable tool in the celiac panel, offering specific advantages in certain populations and situations. Its role in conjunction with other celiac tests underscores the complexity of diagnosing this autoimmune condition and highlights the importance of a comprehensive, multi-faceted diagnostic approach.
------------------
What do normal DGP IGA levels mean in general?
Normal levels of DGP IGA (Deamidated Gliadin Peptide Immunoglobulin A) in a celiac disease panel can signify several things, depending on the context and the presence of other test results:
→ Low Likelihood of Active Celiac Disease: In individuals being tested for celiac disease, normal DGP IGA levels, especially when combined with normal levels of other celiac-specific tests like TTG IGA (Tissue Transglutaminase Immunoglobulin A), suggest a low likelihood of active celiac disease. This is particularly relevant if the individual is currently consuming a diet containing gluten.
→ Consideration of IGA Deficiency: It's important to consider the total serum IGA level. If an individual has an IGA deficiency (which can occur in a small percentage of the population), the DGP IGA test may not be reliable, as the body produces insufficient IGA antibodies. In such cases, IgG-based celiac tests (like TTG IgG or DGP IgG) would be more appropriate.
→ Age Factor in Children: The DGP IGA test is often used in very young children, under two years of age, as it can be more sensitive than TTG IGA in this age group. Normal DGP IGA levels in this context might lower the suspicion of celiac disease, but it's important to consider the entire clinical picture.
→ Possibility of Gluten-Free Diet Effect: If an individual has already started a gluten-free diet prior to testing, normal DGP IGA levels might not necessarily rule out celiac disease. This is because the levels of antibodies can decrease once gluten is removed from the diet.
→ Exclusion of Other Conditions: While elevated DGP IGA levels can occasionally be seen in conditions other than celiac disease, normal levels generally do not indicate these other conditions.
→ Need for Further Evaluation: If clinical suspicion of celiac disease remains high despite normal DGP IGA levels, further evaluation, including other antibody tests (like TTG IGA, TTG IgG, and EMA) and possibly an endoscopic biopsy, may be necessary.
→ Monitoring and Follow-Up: In diagnosed celiac disease patients undergoing treatment (gluten-free diet), normal DGP IGA levels can indicate a good compliance with the diet and a positive response to treatment.
------------------
What if DGP IGA levels are within the normal range and TTG IGA levels are elevated?
If DGP IGA (Deamidated Gliadin Peptide Immunoglobulin A) levels are within the normal range but TTG IGA (Tissue Transglutaminase Immunoglobulin A) levels are elevated in a celiac disease panel, this scenario requires a careful interpretation. Here's how these results are generally approached:
→ Strong Indication of Celiac Disease: Elevated TTG IGA levels are highly indicative of celiac disease, as this marker is very sensitive and specific for the condition. TTG IGA is considered a primary screening test for celiac disease, and its elevation is a strong predictor, especially in individuals who are consuming a gluten-containing diet.
→ Variable Sensitivity of DGP IGA: While DGP IGA is also specific for celiac disease, it might not always be elevated in every case. The sensitivity of the DGP IGA test can vary based on factors like age and the degree of intestinal damage. It is often more useful in specific populations, such as young children.
→ Clinical Correlation: The test results should be correlated with the patient’s symptoms and clinical history. Celiac disease can present with a wide range of symptoms, from gastrointestinal issues to more systemic manifestations.
→ Consideration of Total Serum IGA: It's important to ensure that the individual is not IGA deficient, as this could affect the reliability of IGA-based tests. In cases of IGA deficiency, TTG IgG and DGP IgG tests might be more appropriate.
→ Intestinal Biopsy for Confirmation: Given the elevated TTG IGA, an intestinal biopsy is often recommended to confirm the diagnosis of celiac disease. The biopsy can directly assess the damage to the intestinal villi, which is a hallmark of celiac disease.
→ Other Conditions: While less common, it's important to note that elevated TTG IGA levels can occasionally be seen in conditions other than celiac disease, such as liver disease or other autoimmune disorders. However, these are much less likely in the absence of other supporting evidence for these conditions.
→ Professional Interpretation: The interpretation of these test results should be carried out by healthcare professionals who can integrate the lab findings with the clinical picture. This ensures a more accurate diagnosis and appropriate management plan.
In summary, elevated TTG IGA levels with normal DGP IGA levels still strongly suggest celiac disease, particularly when clinical symptoms are consistent with this condition. Further diagnostic steps, such as an intestinal biopsy, are typically pursued to confirm the diagnosis and guide treatment.
Keeping track of your medical data and laboratory results while understanding what they mean empowers positive health outcomes.
Keeping track of your medical data and lab results while understanding what they mean empowers positive health outcomes.
Save 10% off any plan with promo-code:
HEALTH10
Elevated Deamidated Gliadin Peptide Immunoglobulin A (DGP IGA) levels are a notable marker in celiac disease diagnostics, particularly effective in young children where traditional tests like Tissue Transglutaminase IGA (TTG IGA) may be less reliable. These elevated levels indicate an immune response to gluten, strongly suggestive of celiac disease, but should be interpreted with caution as they can occasionally yield false positives in other conditions. For a definitive diagnosis, elevated DGP IGA results are typically considered alongside other celiac-specific tests and clinical symptoms, and they are often corroborated with an intestinal biopsy, which remains the gold standard for confirming celiac disease. Additionally, in diagnosed patients, persistently high DGP IGA levels can indicate gluten exposure or non-adherence to a gluten-free diet, necessitating a reevaluation of dietary compliance.
----------------
What if DGP IGA and TTG IGA are elevated?
If both DGP IGA (Deamidated Gliadin Peptide Immunoglobulin A) and TTG IGA (Tissue Transglutaminase Immunoglobulin A) levels are elevated in a celiac disease panel, it strongly suggests the presence of celiac disease. This combination of test results indicates a significant immune response against gluten:
→ High Probability of Celiac Disease: Elevated TTG IGA is a primary marker and highly specific for celiac disease, indicating an autoimmune reaction where the body mistakenly targets its own tissue transglutaminase enzyme. Elevated DGP IGA, which measures the immune response to a specific form of gliadin (a component of gluten), further supports this diagnosis.
→ Consistent with Clinical Symptoms: The elevation in both markers should be correlated with clinical symptoms typical of celiac disease, which can range from gastrointestinal issues to systemic symptoms like anemia, fatigue, or bone density loss.
→ Reduced Likelihood of False Positives: While each test individually can have false positives in certain conditions, the likelihood of both tests being elevated due to reasons other than celiac disease is considerably lower.
→ Confirmation with Biopsy: To confirm the diagnosis, an intestinal biopsy is often recommended. This procedure can reveal the characteristic villous atrophy caused by the immune reaction in celiac disease.
→ Comprehensive Evaluation: The results should be evaluated in the context of the patient's overall health, including any other autoimmune disorders, as celiac disease can be associated with other autoimmune conditions.
→ Guidance for Treatment: A diagnosis confirmed through these tests typically leads to the initiation of a strict gluten-free diet, the main treatment for celiac disease, and further monitoring to assess the patient's response to dietary changes.
In conclusion, elevated levels of both DGP IGA and TTG IGA in a celiac panel are a strong indicator of celiac disease, warranting further diagnostic steps and a comprehensive evaluation to confirm the diagnosis and guide appropriate treatment.
Sign up
Sign up now and create your account. Use code HEALTH10 for a 10% discount on any plan. Don't miss out!
Organize
Bring all results from any laboratories to your account. You can enter your tests yourself, or we'll be happy to organize your files—whether in PDF, JPEG, CSV, or even screenshots.
Learn and improve
Once your information is stored in your account, dive into a wealth of insights about your results. If you have any more questions, we are here to answer them.
Guiding our user for 10 years to promptly understand, track, and act on their laboratory results.
$15/month
for personal lab results
Cancel your subscription at any time.
$250/once
full premium version
$45/month
track your clients’ labs
Cancel your subscription at any time.
Guiding our user for 10 years to promptly understand, track, and act on their laboratory results.
Personal plans
track personal results
Professional Plan
track multiple client's results
$15/month
for personal lab results
$250/once
own it for life
$45/month
for health professionals
Complete Plan
Unlimited Plan
$15 per month
$250 full version
Are you a health professional?
Level up your lab report analysis with our Pro plan, built for health practitioners like you.
Health Business Account
$45/month
Cancel your subscription at any time.
Unlock additional Pro plans when you sign up.
Unlock Your Health Journey with Healthmatters.io! Ever wished for a one-stop digital health haven for all your lab tests? Look no further! Healthmatters.io is your personalized health dashboard, bringing together test reports from any lab. Say goodbye to scattered results—organize and centralize your lab data effortlessly. Dive into the details of each biomarker and gain insights into the meaning behind your medical test data.
Join the community of thousands who've transformed the way they understand their lab results. Experience the joy of having all your lab data neatly organized, regardless of where or when the tests were done.
For our professional users, Healthmatters.io is a game-changer. Revel in the intuitive tools that not only streamline analysis but also save valuable time when delving into your client's lab report history. It's not just a dashboard; it's your gateway to a smarter, more informed health journey!
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
While we do talk about popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too. It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters. We can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.
Still on the hunt for a specific biomarker? Just tell us, and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account!
There are two ways to add your test reports to your healthmatters.io account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."
Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.
For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you. We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.
Our special data entry service makes it easy to add your results to your private dashboard. Just attach an image or a file of your lab test results, and our skilled data entry team will do the work for you. It's all done by humans, ensuring that your data is entered accurately and with personal care for each client.
Depending on your account, the data entry service can be included for free or come at an additional cost of $15 per report.
For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.
Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.
Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.
The Unlimited plan is a one-time purchase for $250, and it covers your account for a lifetime with no additional payments.
For the Complete plan, the cost is $15 per month. You have the flexibility to cancel it anytime through your account settings, ensuring no further payments. To avoid charges, remember to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. Once canceled, the subscription remains active until the end of the current billing cycle.
Additionally, you can upgrade to the yearly Advanced plan from within your account. The annual cost is $79, and it comes with a data entry service for five reports.
You can always upgrade to a lifetime version with a prorated price from a monthly or yearly subscription.
Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.
Unlocking the insights from your lab tests has never been this intuitive! We've crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into a treasure trove of testing data.
1. Graph View:Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.
2. All Tests ViewGet a quick grasp of your test reports in minutes! Explore neatly organized reports on a timeline, highlighting crucial details like dates, critical results, and lab/panel names. Each report opens up to reveal in-depth descriptions and additional recommendations for each biomarker. The history of previous results is just a click away, and you can download a comprehensive report for deeper insights. Color-coded and user-friendly, it's designed for easy reading, understanding, and navigation.
3. Table View:For a holistic view of all biomarkers side by side, our table view is your go-to. Results are neatly displayed in a categorized and dated table, ideal for those with an extensive test history. Utilize sorting, filters, and color-coding to enhance your analysis and gain extra insights.
Experience the power of clear, organized data visualization with Healthmatters.io — your key to understanding and taking charge of your health journey!
Yes, you can download information from your account. We can compile your labs into a CSV file. To download all your labs, you can go to Account Settings, and at the bottom of the page, you will find a link to download your information.
Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.
A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.
The professional or business account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.
To learn more about Healthmatters Pro, please refer to the professional page.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
