dmouse--
 

--I don't think those test you listed are celiac related (the tipoff to me is that celiac antibodies normally do not have any Immunoglobulin M activity, only Immunoglobulin A and G).

The typical celiac panel measures tranglutaminase IgA, anti-gliadin IgA, and antig-gliadin IgG. Savvy docs may also order the anti-endomyesial antibody and do a total IgA suvery, as there are people with hereditary low levels of IgA which can skew the results of other IgA testing.

From what I know, I think those MPA tests are for anti-myeloperoxidase antibodies, often found in microscopic angiitis, a small vessel form of autoimmune vasculitis, often associated with other vascular/connective tissue disorders (and any of these disorders can have neuropathy as a secondary effect):


http://www.med.unc.edu/medicine/web/...sculitides.htm

http://www.specialtylabs.com/books/display.asp?id=47

so...
 

so it follows that if you want testing to confirm gluten intolerance, you cannot start gluten free until after the testing.

If you are gluten intolerant that gliadin peptide remains in the body for a while wreaking havoc.

That is why it takes months for improvements to show up.

I was thinking I need to try and get in to dermatology. I think that since I have chronic itch, they may consider it medically necessary... that's why I've been taking photos. It would be just my luck I go to the appointment and have no lesions or itch! Photos are a back-up.
Funny thing is, I've mentioned this itch to all three of my docs, and not one looked at my skin!

Thanks again for all the info!:)

I've been thinking too that there is more than one thing going on... it's not uncommon if you have one autoimmune, you most likely develop more...

Vasculitis
 

This is an index of some of the rashes of vasculitis, with photo's: http://www.dermnet.com/moduleIndex.cfm?moduleID=22 Vasculitis can be caused by any number of autoimmune issues. Sjogren's is one, so is RA. The neuropathy can cause the itching feeling too. When my neuropathy is bad the itching is intense.

Billye