Re: Immunoglobulin lab values and other info for Ellyn and others

[Guest guest]

my blood work from NIH

says IGA.. 91-499 mg/dL

that being said kiaras is 54

and says for creatnine.. 07-1.3 mg/dL

kiaras is .4

i think we wonder as parents what this means? i was told that kiaras IGa level

is very concerning.. its low. THey are now tracking other disorders.

To the mom who wanted to know about levels. i am always talking to our NIH

doctors. you need to keep pushing and finding what your results mean

mom to kiara 6

Immunoglobulin lab values and other info for Ellyn and others

CREAT mg/dl - 0.5 Normal ... Normal Values:

M: 0.9-1.6 mg/dl

F: 0.7-1.3 mg/dl

URIC AC mg/dl - 3.2

GGT units/L - 9 Normal

IG A mg/dl - 77 Normal range is IgA: 65-415 mg/dl

POLYS% - 36.0 These are breakdowns of the WBC's.... called a diff.... again I

am not sure what you want to know. They indicate if there may be an infection

but with a PFS, there is usually a shift in these.... Nothing to be concerned

about.

RDW% - 15.6

HAPTO mg/dl - 27

FYI: When you go to NIH all of these blood components and Immune system

factors are checked.

B Lymphocytes

B cells are programmed to produce substances called immunoglobulins also known

as antibodies. Each B cell produces a specific antibody for a specific antigen

(foreign substance) much like a specific key is made for a specific lock. When

an antibody locks with an antigen it usually renders the antigen harmless and

marks it for destruction. There are five classes of immunoglobulins: IgG, IgM,

IgA, IgD, and IgE. Each has a different role in the immune defense scheme. IgG

is the most abundant immunoglobulin in blood. It coats microorganisms making

them more desirable for ingestion and destruction by other white blood cells.

IgM is the largest of the immunoglobulins and is also found in the bloodstream.

It is very effective in killing bacteria. IgA is found mainly in body fluids

such as tears, saliva, respiratory, and gastrointestinal secretions. Its

function is seen as guarding the entrances into the body. These are the three

immunoglobulins that are measurable in the peripheral blood. Because IgE and IgD

are found in such small amounts in the blood stream they are not as easily

measurable. Abnormalities associated with HIV infection are not only seen in T

cells but also in B cells. B cells depend upon the T4 cells to tell them what to

do (T4 cell induction); because of this, many B cell abnormalities, such as

elevated immunoglobulins and poor antibody response to new antigens, are

probably due to faulty regulation by the infected T4 cell.7,9

Normal Values of Immunoglobulins:

IgG: 650-1600 mg/dl

IgM: 50-320 mg/dl

IgA: 65-415 mg/dl

T Lymphocytes

T cells do not produce antibodies but have a very major role in the immune

response. They have two functions; (1) acting as regulators of the immune system

and (2) directly attacking cells that are malignant or defective. There are two

main types of T cells that vary in respect to their function. There are the T4

cells or CD4+ cells, also called the " helper/ inducer cells. " These cells are

essential for the activation of B cells, other T cells, natural killer cells and

monocytes/macrophages when they detect that the body has been invaded by

viruses, parasites and fungi. It is known that the HIV virus invades the CD4+

cell and makes the cell ineffective in doing its normal functions. After

infection with HIV, there is an initial decline in CD4+ cells followed by a

return to near normal levels, with a gradual decline over an extended period. As

the disease progresses, the rate of loss of CD4+ cells increases. A person with

less than 200 CD4+ cells/mm3 or less than 14% CD4+ cells is much more likely to

develop opportunistic infections than someone with greater than 200 CD4+

cells/mm3. Although the course somewhat varies, it may take years for the

CD4+cell number of an HIV infected person to drop below 200/mm3. T8 cells or

CD8+ are the other subset of T lymphocytes and are known as the

" suppressor/cytotoxic " T cells. Their main function is to down regulate

(turn-off) antibody production by the B cell and to suppress or turn off the

cells once the infection is under control. The cytotoxic T cells kill cells that

are infected by virus and also kill tumor cells. CD8+ cells specific to HIV have

been seen in the early course of the disease in HIV-infected individuals and

over time, along with the loss of CD4+ cells, there is a loss of these

HIV-specific CD8+ cells.7 Levels of CD8+ cells vary during the course of HIV

disease and could be normal, elevated or decrease.7

Normal Values:

T4 Cells: 600-1200/cu.mm, 40-60%

T8 Cells: 150-600/cu.mm, 15-20%

a.. Natural Killer Cells: NK Cells Natural killer cells are a type of

lymphocyte that do not carry the markers to be B cells or T cells. Like

cytotoxic T cells they attack and kill tumor cells and protect against a wide

variety of infectious microbes. They are " natural " killers because they do not

need additional stimulation or need to recognize a specific antigen in order to

attack and kill. Natural killer cells in vitro have shown the capability of

killing HIV-infected cells.7 Coated with antibody, the NK cell has the ability

to kill cells expressing HIV on their surface.7