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QUESTION: Our family of four just had the blood testing done as part of the U of Maryland research. The results are very confusing to me. My 21 yr. Old son who has celiac and dh came back with a positive EmA which read as 1/20. Does this in any way indicate how serious his gluten intake is (I know all gluten intake is potentially serious)? Also, my (the mother)tests showed IgA of 5.53, IgG of 41.98, and the antiendomysium IgA as negative. Then they have a box with Total IgA (N=age related): then the number 264. The comments on me said Elevated IgG level. Normal total IgA. Not IgA deficient. Not Celiac. What does that number of 41.98 mean? Our support group leader who was in charge of this thought it meant that I have a high allergy level to something, but I am not celiac. What test shows whether or not you even have the gene for celiac? I would really like to fax all of our results to you if you would consider looking at them for me. I really want to get a handle on this. Thanks so much.

DR. RUDERT: Regarding your 21-year-old son with a positive EmA of 1/20. Positive EmA's correlate with total villous atrophy and I am concerned that this indeed could potentially represent continued gluten ingestion and possibly total villous atrophy. Degree of elevation has not been correlated with total gluten intake.

Regarding your question, "What does the number 41.98 mean". I would need to see the actual labs, but I am concerned that they comment "not Celiac." Blood testing cannot make the diagnosis of the disease nor can it always reassure individuals whose labs are negative since sero-negative Celiac has been reported. I never evaluate the labs in and of themselves without a detailed history and thorough physical examination. I would like very much to help you, but most certainly more information would be necessary.

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