Can Pegsasy and interferion cause an abnormal celiac test?

[BellaRenee]

I was on pegsasy and interferion over two months ago. I was on that treatment for four months and had arthritis problems the whole time. (Inflammation/bad swelling) Arthritis got progressively worse until it was crippling and I had to stop treatment. I still have arthritis after stopping treatment, but I was put on steroids and it has gotten a lot better than it was but still not going away. So I went to a rheumatologist and he ran a bunch of tests . He said my celiac test came back abnormal ( So I have to go back and see my other doctor again blah). I'm tired of going to the doctor and them not knowing what's wrong with me, so I put this one off a couple weeks. Abnormal means maybe or maybe not I'm guessing . Can that kind of medicine cause it to be abnormal months after treatment?

[BellaRenee]

Thanks for your comment. If I do have to go on a gluten free diet then I will be eating mostly fruit, veggies, and meat. It's my favorite stuff anyway. I looked at a list of food with gluten in it and it is very long. On the bright side most of that list isn't very healthy or it is fattening.

[BellaRenee]

Thank you I'm glad I feel better too. :-)
My celiac test came in later than all my other tests, so it was the nurse who called me and said it was abnormal. I really just need to see my doctor and ask what abnormal is. I thought about going on a gluten free diet just in case but I read that you have to eat it for there tests to tell if you actually have it or not so I am waiting just in case.

[Dee1956]

Hi there, I am so sorry you had such a bad time, I know how bad it can be.  I also don't know about celiac but Verdugo has a good idea of what to avoid until you find out.  There are so many things that contain gluten, it is mind boggling.  After my niece was diagnosed I could see that the safest way to go is whole foods.
It takes up to 6 months for the ribavirin to leave your body so that could be affecting you.  Kind of odd that the Rheumy took the test then sends you back to your GP.  How frustrating.  I know that I got so sick of seeing doctors I stopped for a while :)
Take care
Dee

[Verdugo]

I remember your posts from a few months back.  I'm sorry that treatment was so difficult for you.   INT can be a difficult drug to handle  -- and has been for many people.  I'm glad you are doing better now.  

Ok, I don't know the answer to your question:  if INT could cause you to develop Celiac disease but based on anecdotal evidence (reading forum member's experiences), it seems possible to acquire an autoimmune disease from such treatment.  As you probably know already, celiac disease is an autoimmune disease.

I've had the Celiac test and recall that the result is either "positive" or "negative", not "abnormal".  Depending on the test they ran, you may have a gluten intolerance as oppose to a full-on allergy.  Or perhaps they need to run the test again.  With that said, I would advise you to stop eating ALL wheat, rye and barley until you get this sorted.  Another reason to start now is that there may be a connection between celiac and arthritis.  Check this out:  http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/gluten-and-arthritis#1

Good luck and take care,
V.