Immunoglobulin A, QN, Serum
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Immunoglobulin A, QN, Serum
Hello Friends. I have only posted once but read daily. I was diagnosed with CC in 2/06 at the age of 31. I am gluten, dairy, and soy free thanks to the input from this forum and a great functional medicine dr. As is seems we all have had, I have had many ups and downs the past several years. Most recently I have had trouble sleeping and neck and upper back pain. I was encouraged to see a rheumatologist. While he indicated his findings were not significant, I left with a preliminary diagnosis of loss of cervical lordosis (curvature of the spine) and encouraged to see a physiatrist. Of note to me was my Iga result of 63. What are your general thoughts on this? I understand it to be a basis marker of autoimmunity disease. Thanks to all.
Sharon
Sorry, I don't know whether that level is high or low.
The IgA level is relative to your labs levels for normal and depends on the measurement method they are using - for example normal for the lab that does my work is between 0.4 and 7. Is your level of 63 described as low or high? The report normally says what they consider normal.
Lyn
The IgA level is relative to your labs levels for normal and depends on the measurement method they are using - for example normal for the lab that does my work is between 0.4 and 7. Is your level of 63 described as low or high? The report normally says what they consider normal.
Lyn
Your IgA level appears to just be depressed, somewhat, so presumably, you do not have the condition known as selective IgA deficiency. I know very little about this, but Lyn is an authority on this topic, since she has the condition herself, I believe.
Did you have a CBC, (complete blood count), done at the same time? If so, was your white cell count within the normal range, or was it significantly elevated? There are various reasons for a depressed IgA level - one of the possible causes, for example, is enteropathy. Are you quite confident that you have been successful in avoiding all of your food intolerances?
The reason I ask, is because before I adopted the diet, and got my MC symptoms under control, RA symptoms were quite severe, in a number of my joints. I was convinced that I had RA, so I didn't even bother to get a diagnosis, since I couldn't use NSAIDs, and I had no intention of taking any of the powerful immune system suppressants that are usually prescribed for severe cases. After adopting the diet, though, my RA symptoms improved quickly, but it took at least several years, before they disappeared completely, and, of course, the damage was permanent, (I ended up with a couple of crooked fingers, for example). This past summer, my RF, (rheumatoid factor), was checked, and the result was negative, so apparently, all my "RA" symptoms were due to food intolerance issues, (not classic RA).
Tex
Did you have a CBC, (complete blood count), done at the same time? If so, was your white cell count within the normal range, or was it significantly elevated? There are various reasons for a depressed IgA level - one of the possible causes, for example, is enteropathy. Are you quite confident that you have been successful in avoiding all of your food intolerances?
The reason I ask, is because before I adopted the diet, and got my MC symptoms under control, RA symptoms were quite severe, in a number of my joints. I was convinced that I had RA, so I didn't even bother to get a diagnosis, since I couldn't use NSAIDs, and I had no intention of taking any of the powerful immune system suppressants that are usually prescribed for severe cases. After adopting the diet, though, my RA symptoms improved quickly, but it took at least several years, before they disappeared completely, and, of course, the damage was permanent, (I ended up with a couple of crooked fingers, for example). This past summer, my RF, (rheumatoid factor), was checked, and the result was negative, so apparently, all my "RA" symptoms were due to food intolerance issues, (not classic RA).
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
The level you are low by is not likely to worry an immunologist unless you have other symptoms. May I suggest you get your main doctor to do a full immunoglobulin panel about six weeks after the first test. If the results are still low in that area, or out of normal in other areas, you probably want to go and see an immunologist. Particularly if you are prone to colds and flu's or other infections. For comparison, mine is 0.08 where normal is 0.7 - 4.00 (I put that back to front last post). I am guessing you would be .63 on my scale and I would be 8 on your scale.
What I have is actually CVID rather than Selective IgA Deficiency - both my IgA and IgG are low. My IgM is also dodgy. Selective IgA deficiency is boringly common (sorry), and generally causes very little concern. Other types of immune deficiency can sometimes cause some problems, so if you get repeat low figures you want to check and get on top of any issues there.
Never saw much relationship between that and the arthritis. My rheumy diagnosed arthritis too. But it is really just how I react to gluten. No gluten no symptoms. THey measured the IgA primarily because they test for coeliac, and coeliac blood tests are unreliable if you have low IgA.
Lyn
What I have is actually CVID rather than Selective IgA Deficiency - both my IgA and IgG are low. My IgM is also dodgy. Selective IgA deficiency is boringly common (sorry), and generally causes very little concern. Other types of immune deficiency can sometimes cause some problems, so if you get repeat low figures you want to check and get on top of any issues there.
Never saw much relationship between that and the arthritis. My rheumy diagnosed arthritis too. But it is really just how I react to gluten. No gluten no symptoms. THey measured the IgA primarily because they test for coeliac, and coeliac blood tests are unreliable if you have low IgA.
Lyn
Thanks for your input. I did not have a CBC at the same time. I had one back in October and my levels were slightly under the normal range (I can't remember the exact number). I had a follow up ANA which was negative and another CBC in December in which my levels were at the lowest end of normal. My five year old had had H1N1 and the baby was battling one cold after another so I figured the low WBC was the result of my body fighting a bug. On another note, my lipase levels were elevated. An MRCP revealed scar tissue from having my gallbladder removed back in 2001 and therefore the likely reason for the elevated lipase level.
I avoid gluten and dairy like it's the plague. Soy, on the other hand, I have had on occasion in processed foods like a store bought gluten free cookie. I guess I need to avoid it just as stringently as the others. I experienced a lot of joint pain in the beginning that disappeared quickly with diet changes.
With regards to a complete immunoglobulin panel. I think that is what I had. My Igg level was 940 with a range of 700-1600 and Igm was 117 with a range of 40-230. Also, my SED rate was 1 with a range of 0-20 and C-reactive protein was 0.4 with a range of 0.0 to 4.9. Thanks, Lyn, for the conversion of numbers as it relates to your Iga and range. That helps put my number in perspective. No need to be sorry... I love "boring" test results!
Thanks again for your input. I knew you could help me understand things as they relate to MC and food intolerances.
I avoid gluten and dairy like it's the plague. Soy, on the other hand, I have had on occasion in processed foods like a store bought gluten free cookie. I guess I need to avoid it just as stringently as the others. I experienced a lot of joint pain in the beginning that disappeared quickly with diet changes.
With regards to a complete immunoglobulin panel. I think that is what I had. My Igg level was 940 with a range of 700-1600 and Igm was 117 with a range of 40-230. Also, my SED rate was 1 with a range of 0-20 and C-reactive protein was 0.4 with a range of 0.0 to 4.9. Thanks, Lyn, for the conversion of numbers as it relates to your Iga and range. That helps put my number in perspective. No need to be sorry... I love "boring" test results!
Thanks again for your input. I knew you could help me understand things as they relate to MC and food intolerances.
Sharon
With so many normal figures and just the one that is low, you can probably relax. Everyone has the odd dodgy figure if you do enough tests.
Regarding the reduced lordosis, you definitely want to add in some physical therapy for that. I used to be a professional massage therapist amongst other things, this is the sort of thing that you can address that way. It takes a balance of strength and flexibility to keep the body properly aligned. Hopefully the person you have been referred to is good at working out what you need to do to get back into balance. They will give you exercises, and I am afraid you will actually have to do them if want to see an improvement and avoid increasing pain.
Lyn
Regarding the reduced lordosis, you definitely want to add in some physical therapy for that. I used to be a professional massage therapist amongst other things, this is the sort of thing that you can address that way. It takes a balance of strength and flexibility to keep the body properly aligned. Hopefully the person you have been referred to is good at working out what you need to do to get back into balance. They will give you exercises, and I am afraid you will actually have to do them if want to see an improvement and avoid increasing pain.
Lyn