Re: Jordan Morrow

[Guest guest]

> please someone tell me where we are on the chart i

> know low but really bad, somewhat bad or what

>

> her IGA is 11 normal is 22-159

> her IGG is 429 normal is 441-1135

> her IGM is 25 normal is 47-200

>

> her IGG subclass is 306 normal is 515-1100

>

> what does all this mean,

from Dale, Mom to Katy, age 22, married

Welcome Janna, First of all let me assure you that the clinical picture

does not always reflect the numbers or vice versa. Just the other day

we had someone post that their child was very sick clinically, but the

numbers were perfect. So. First fact. The numbers are NOT significant

as a reflection of severity. What they are a reflection of is that

Jordan's immune system is not as strong as it should be and it's showing

up both in the numbers and in the fact that she's clinically sick again.

In other words -- one child may have a 500 and be sick all the time --

another be 400 and be relatively healthy. So -- the numbers are just an

indicator that we need to look seriously at her function -- in other

words -- can she build antibodies to germs (vaccination titers).

Now, 2nd lesson in immunology. The way immunoglobulins are produced in

simple form is that the B-cells produce IgM and IgM becomes IgG and IgA

depending on which one the body needs the worse. When a body is only

low on IgG then you get an IgG deficiency or antibody deficiency. But

when all three are low, it's usually classified as Hypogammaglobulinemia

or Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID) - they are the same thing --

just called different things by different doctors.

Now, 3rd lesson -- if Jordan is under the age of 2 -- she won't be

diagnosed with anything except maybe THI (transient hypogam of infancy).

Which is just a fancy way of saying -- let's hope she outgrows this.

A lot of kids have a transient form of deficiency that they grow out of.

Some kids need temporary support like antibiotics or possibly even

some IgG replacement -- but most of them outgrow it. So, her age will

make a big difference in how she is treated.

So, hopefully, I've answered some of your questions. Oh, IgG primarily

protects the blood stream. IgA primarily protects the mucous membranes

-- but they overlap and work together in a lot of areas. Each IgG

subclass protects against certain germs, but other subclasses will

compensate and try to protect.

So, what do you know right now -- depending on her age, you may have a

diagnosis of CVID, or you may be in a waiting period until her immune

system has a chance to mature and grow and hopefully catch up.

Please let us know if you have additional questions. We'll all try to

help. One of the important diagnostic tests will be to determine if

she is able to build titers (antibodies) to her vaccinations. Have you

done that yet? That is usually the " defining " issue if she's unable to

build a good response to vaccinations. There's lots of people out

there with low numbers and a very stable, healthy clinical picture -- so

you can't go just on numbers alone.

Best wishes as you journey through this beginning stage of diagnosis.

It's not a fun journey -- but you'll learn a lot in the process!

Let us know if we can help you with additional information.

In His service,

dale