low IgA

[Guest guest]

I got some blood test results back today and I have a low IgA. Anyone

know anything about this?

Lori

[Guest guest]

I went to see my Allergist this week to hopefully get approved for desensitization. While I was there, he sent me for blood work and specifically wanted to test my IgA level. Suspects it will be low, but there is nothing you can do about it anyway. I guess in the past I was tested for my IgG and IgE levels ( I think ) but no one requested this one. Haven't received my results yet. But, I guess people with sinus issues typically have low IgA.

Stacey in MA

low IgA

I got some blood test results back today and I have a low IgA. Anyone know anything about this?Lori

[Guest guest]

hello,

i found a website and this is what is says about IgA levels:

IgA stands for immunoglobulin A, one of the classes of immunoglobulins (also

called

antibodies) that are in the blood. IgA is important in protecting 'mucosal

surfaces' - the

linings of the tracts of the body, e.g. the lungs, and is secreted in saliva and

tears. It

protects against infections of the mucous membranes lining the mouth, airways,

and

digestive tract.

The 'low', 'normal' and 'high' ranges vary with age, and are also lab-specific.

However, a

reasonable normal range is 80-350mg/dl.

Low levels of IgA occur in some types of leukemia, kidney damage (nephrotic

syndrome), a

problem with the intestines (enteropathy), and a rare inherited disease that

affects muscle

coordination (ataxia-telangiectasia). Some people are born with low or absent

levels of IgA

antibodies, which increases their chances of developing an autoimmune disease.

i am curious to see if mine has ever been tested

hope this helps

laura

[Guest guest]

Lori, I found this on another list:

livingwheatandglutenfree/message/5958

IgE, IgG and IgA

" The body has about 5 different immune systems, which

all protect different things. The IgE system centers

on the nose and respiratory system. IgG is in the blood.

IgA is in the gut. (they overlap, but that's the simplified version).

There are two others that I don't know anything about. And

perhaps more ... but all of them have been discovered recently.

At the turn of the century, getting sniffly around dogs or cats were

supposed to be " hysterical " reactions caused by emotions. Then

they discovered IgE, and coined the term " allergy " .

IgE allergies happen when the nose or mouth or skin comes into

contact with the allergen. They happen very quickly. They

are easy to test for. They seem to come and go, for some

allergies, while others stick around (like peanuts).

About 1970, some researchers discovered that some people

reacted badly to some *foods*, but they didn't react right

away. They called these " intolerances " because they didn't

show up on skin tests so weren't " allergies " . Later they

discovered that in fact there is a whole different immune

system centered in the *blood*, and those sorts of " intolerances "

are now known to be another kind of allergy, namely IgG.

IgG allergies happen when proteins get into the bloodstream.

If a person stops eating the allergenic food, then

the IgG allergies tend to go away, or the person can eat

the food in small quantities now and then.

Normally proteins don't get into the bloodstream though!

So the underlying question is, what makes the gut " leak "

said proteins?

That's where the IgA allergies come in. THOSE happen in

the gut (and maybe the mouth, causing canker sores).

The best known IgA allergy is to gluten, though there

are others. The overwhelming evidence is that the gluten

IgA allergy does NOT go away, ever, though if a person

is GF long enough they will stop producing the IgA.

Once they stop producing the IgA, they may not get

much reaction to small amounts of gluten, but IgA

production ramps up pretty quicly if they start

eating it again. The IgA reaction to gluten is very

much genetic: people without the genes don't get it,

and people with the genes usually get it (though facts

here are hard to get, because " mildly reactive " people

aren't always counted). Blood tests don't work well

for IgA, because the IgA is usually only in the gut,

not in the blood.

Anyway, the IgA allergies are the sneakiest. MOST

of the time they have few or no visible symptoms, but

they are known to trigger autoimmune diseases and cancer,

and basically cause a sort of malnutrition through malabsorption.

They also trigger the IgG allergies. People get horridly

confused then, because they figure they can " get over "

allergies which is TRUE for the IgG ones.

The only way to know if a given food reaction is IgA or IgG is

through testing (though I'm guessing canker sores and dermatitis

herpetiformis are *only* caused by IgA). People with an IgA

reaction to gluten usually have an IgG one too, but usually

do NOT have an IgE reaction to it.

There are also issues with just plain " lack of digestion "

where a person isn't digesting a food right due to lack

of stomach acid or enzymes. " Not digesting " protein correctly

CAN lead to IgG allergies (and the IgA allergies probably

wouldn't happen either, if the food got digested before

reaching the gut? But I'm not sure, because the reaction

seems to happen in mouth tissue also, like canker sores).

" Lack of digestion " intolerances are easily handled by

taking enzymes and HCL, which bring great relief to a lot

of people. It's not an either/or thing though: folks with

gluten intolerance typically have low HCL and enzymes too,

which tend to resolve after being off gluten for awhile. "

in New Mexico

[Guest guest]

This link tells a bit more:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001476.htm

Low IgA promotes food allergies.

in New Mexico

[Guest guest]

Wow, thanks for all these responses. I'm pretty confused about the

IgA allergy thing and how that is associated with low levels or not

associated or whatever.

One thing I'm REALLY confused about is that the nurse at my doctor's

office called and she said the IgA could be causing my joint pain and

swelling. I think she has no frickin' clue what she's talking about.

I can't find ANYWHERE where IgA levels are associated with joint pain

and swelling. The closest thing I could find is sometimes in lupus

people have low IgA. But my understanding was that all my other

counts were completely normal, including ANA and rheumatoid factor, so

I don't think I have lupus.

WEIRD.

Thanks again for all the great responses!!

Lori

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure if I have selective IgA deficiency. I mean, I'm pretty

sure my IgA has been tested other times and I've never been told that

it was low before now. I don't think this is part of a CBC, but I've

had a lot of blood tests for other stuff over the years and I think

they would have tested that. Hmm. I don't know.

Lori

>

> This link tells a bit more:

>

> http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001476.htm

>

> Low IgA promotes food allergies.

>

> in New Mexico

>

[Guest guest]

Lori,

Below is an copy/paste of another description of the various antibodies. I find it interesting that "colostrum" is mentioned in the IgA section (it was brought up on this board last April as a recommended supplement). Also, the IgE area supports a food reaction test (RAST) might be beneficial to see if any IgE is present for any particular foods. I liked the Arizona test because it measured 90 food items (and 45 airborn) with just one blood draw, whereas other testing labs might be very limited in foods tested or require several draws. I hate the results I got, but avoiding the foods where I had a response has clearly been beneficial. Just very difficult trying to understand "why".

(AZ)

****************************************

There are five major types of immuglobulins, or antibodies: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM, but the three most abundant are IgA, IgG, and IgM. Class A (IgA) antibodies are exported into mucosal surfaces of exocrine glands found in the alimentary, respiratory, urinary, and genital tracts, and help protect against infections. IgA antibodies are also found in colostrum helping to protect an infant against many intestinal infections. The IgA molecule is made up of two Y-shaped molecules. Altogether there are about 10,000 million B cells that form IgA antibody. Some of them engage in immune responses, while others stand by until the need arises. Class D (IgD) antibody is found in trace amounts in the serum and serves as a surface receptor for B cells. Class E (IgE) antibody is a minor type, responsible for allergic reactions. It is formed by B cells that lie just below the respiratory and intestinal surfaces. IgE attach to mast cells in these areas. Stimulated by the presence of an antigen, IgE release a pulse of histamine in response. However, the same IgE response, useful in ridding the body of parasites for example, is also the same one responsible for hayfever, asthma, and eczema; and, on occasion, IgE is also responsible for a more severe reaction called anaphylaxis. Class G (IgG) antibodies are the main ones found in plasma and body fluids and the main one that activates complement proteins. They consist of the basic Y-shaped structure that easily leaks out into tissues. For instance, small amounts are normally found in the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain. IgG is particularly effective against certain bacteria, viruses, and various toxins. Class M (IgM) is a very large type of antibody found in blood plasma. Each molecule is made up of five of the basic Y-shaped molecules. This means that it has five times as many sites that can combine with antigen making the IgM molecule much more powerful than IgG or IgA. IgM is the first to appear in an immune response, as much as a day or two before IgG, but is eventually replaced with IgG antibodies. It is also the first to appear in the development of a fetus, and the type of antibody seen in primitive fishes.

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol, thanks, as I said, I thought it was not part of the CBC,

but I've had so many tests over the last 16 years at allergists,

immunologists and oncologists that I would think my IgA would have

been tested at least once by now. I'm pretty sure they tested IgA

and IgG at least a couple of times during chemo, although I don't

have copies of all of those results.

Plus I never started getting sick until I was in college with the

Samters, before then I was pretty healthy and didn't get sick any

more than other people, and actually it wasn't until the last six

months that I've been sick a lot, which is I guess why they tested

it. My understanding of selective IgA deficiency as a syndrome is

that it's lifelong, but maybe I'm misinterpreting what I'm reading

about it.

Thanks

Lori

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> >> This link tells a bit more:

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> >> http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001476.htm

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> >> Low IgA promotes food allergies.

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> >> in New Mexico

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