Another lab question....IgA?
 

Hi Again,

I hope I'm not driving you guys crazy with all my questions! I'm really trying to understand all of this so I can ask the right questions and demand the right tests when I see my Dr.'s.

I've read a few different posts here that talk about IgA defiency and having your total IgA tested. I do not know the significance of that test and what it means if you are deficient (please explain it to me in simple terms!:o ) but I was going through some of my previous labs and I'm wondering if this is the IgA that I've been reading about? The result is listed under a Chemistry panel and it has:

IgA: 85 (81.0-463.0)
IgG: 1063 (694.0-1618.0)
IgM: 219 (48.0-271.0)

The IgG and IgM appear to be well within the normal limit but the IgA is pretty low-normal. Is this of any significance? Should I bring it to my Dr's attention?

Thanks again! :)

Hi Daisy,

Yes, that is the correct IgA test, and you are low end. That seems to be the case for a fair amount of people with gluten sensitivity/celiac disease.

My daughter had her total IgA level tested twice, once it was just above low end, and the other time it was just below range. She fits the profile pretty well....lots of general illness, sinus infections, etc. Most doctors don't get too concerned about this unless you are rock bottom low (like less than 10), because then there may be trouble with blood transfusion should you ever need one. I don't believe that is a problem with a low normal level, but it may very well be a factor in your overall health. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.

I might have more to say tomorrow after I can glance over the articles again, but I think it might easiest if you just take a quick look. The second one is a nice overview.


Celiac Disease and Immunoglobulin A Deficiency... by Kumar, et al.

Selective IgA Deficiency -IDF Patient/ Family Handbook

Hope this helps! Don't hesitate to ask questions...that is why we are here :).

Cara

Thanks again Cara,

Those articles helped me to understand this a lot better. ;)

What lab did your Total IGA test?

The reason I ask is we've had to do it 2X -- Mayo clinic was a blanket catch all number and the pediatrician was shocked that his TTG came back negative. She was not able to see his IGA was so low it caused the TTG negative.

Prometheus was an age defined specific number range which was a better picture of my ds2's IGA status, he is very low, low enough not to trigger positives on the Celiac Panel of test, but not low enough to be considered fully IGA deficient. I had to take him to Dr. Fasano in MD to get that answer from a doctor -- I already suspected it.