Glutamic acid decarboxylase is an enzyme found in brain and pancreas that converts glutamic acid (glutamate) into GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter. The glutamic acid decarboxylase test is a test that looks for antibodies directed against the glutamic acid decarboxylase enzyme. While glutamic acid decarboxylase is a critical enzyme in brain, it is also found in beta cells in the pancreas. Some individuals develop autoantibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase. When these antibodies are detectable in the blood, they may represent an autoimmune disease. The test is performed using radioimmunoassay. The absence or very low levels of glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies are considered normal. Less than 10% of healthy individuals will have low levels of glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies, suggesting that they may be present in people without disease.
Normal Ranges for Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase:
Less than or equal to 0.02 nmol/L
Sources:
https://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/81596
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/pathogenesis-of-type-1-diabetes-mellitus
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5107286/
https://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/84221
It is not possible to have glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody levels that are too low.
Understand and improve your laboratory results with our health dashboard.
Upload your lab reports and get your interpretation today.
Our technology helps to understand, combine, track, organize, and act on your medical lab test results.
Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) autoantibodies are primarily associated with autoimmune diseases, notably type 1 diabetes and certain neurological disorders. In type 1 diabetes, the presence of GAD autoantibodies is common and serves as a marker for the autoimmune nature of the disease. While it's true that these antibodies are more prevalent in type 1 diabetes, their levels can vary among individuals.
In contrast, GAD autoantibodies are much less common in type 2 diabetes. Their presence in type 2 diabetes patients is not typical and is usually not a feature of the disease. Instead, if GAD autoantibodies are present in someone diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it might suggest a misdiagnosis or a form of diabetes that lies on the autoimmune spectrum, such as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA).
Regarding neurological diseases, GAD autoantibodies are linked to some neurological conditions, such as Stiff Person Syndrome. However, their presence is not definitive for diagnosing these conditions and should be interpreted within the broader context of the patient's clinical presentation and other diagnostic findings.
Furthermore, GAD autoantibodies are associated with a predisposition to various autoimmune disorders. Their presence can indicate a general propensity towards autoimmunity and might be seen in conditions like autoimmune thyroid disease, pernicious anemia, Addison's disease, and vitiligo. However, they are not specific markers for these diseases.
In summary, while GAD autoantibodies are significant in the context of type 1 diabetes and may be seen in various autoimmune disorders, their presence should be interpreted carefully, considering the overall clinical context and other diagnostic tests.
Interpret Your Lab Results
Upload your lab report, and we'll interpret and provide you with recommendations today.
Get StartedOur specialized data entry service is designed to seamlessly integrate your laboratory results into your private dashboard. Just send in your lab test results—whether it's an image or a file—and our skilled data entry team will handle the rest. We accommodate various file formats like PDFs, JPGs, and Excel.
The first report is complimentary. After that, the data entry service is priced at $15 per report, unless it's part of your subscribed plan. It's an ideal solution whether you have numerous reports to upload or if your schedule doesn't permit self-data entry.
We strive to make the data entry process easy for you. Whether by offering dozens of templates to choose from that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels or by giving you instant feedback on the entered values. Our data entry forms are an easy, fast, and convenient way to enter the reports yourself. There is no limit on how many lab reports you can upload.
Personal plans
track personal results
Professional Plan
track multiple client's results
$15/month
$250/once
own it for life
$45/month
for health professionals
Personal Account
$15/month
for personal lab results
$250/once
own it for life
Level up your lab report analysis with our Pro plan, built for health practitioners like you.
Health Business Account
$45/month
Unlock additional Pro plans when you sign up.
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.
1,5-Anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG), Intermediate Glycemic Control, 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate, Adiponectin, Albumin/Creatinine Ratio, Random Urine, Anti-Thyroglobulin ab. (0-39), C-Peptide, LC/MS/MS, C-Peptide, Serum, C-Peptide, Ultrasensitive (Endocrine Sciences), Ceruloplasmin, Creatinine, Random Urine, Cyclic AMP, Plasma, Dihydrotestosterone (female), Dihydrotestosterone (male), Estimated Average Glucose (eAG), Free Androgen Index, Free testosterone, Free Testosterone (Male) in pmol/L, Free Testosterone (Male/Serum) in ng/ml, Free Testosterone, Direct (Female), Free Testosterone, Direct (Male), Free Testosterone, Percent (Female), Fructosamine, Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase, Glycated Serum Protein (GSP), Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), HOMA-B, HOMA-IR, HOMA-S, Homocysteine, Insulin (Fasting), Insulin Antibody, Insulin Resistance Score, Insulin, Intact, LC/MS/MS, Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-1), Iodine, Serum/Plasma, Nonesterified Fatty Acids (Free Fatty Acids), Pregnenolone, Proinsulin, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG), T7 Index, Testost., % Free+Weakly Bound, Testost., % Free+Weakly Bound (female), Testost., F+W Bound (female), Testosterone, Testosterone (Female/Child), Testosterone, bioavailable, Testosterone, bioavailable (male), Testosterone, Serum (Female), Thyroglobulin, Thyroglobulin Antibodies (0 - 1 IU/L), Thyrotropin Receptor Ab, Serum, Thyroxine-binding globulin, TBG, TMAO (Trimethylamine N-oxide), Triiodothyronine, Serum, TSH Receptor Antibody (TBII), Zinc Transporter 8 (ZnT8) Antibody