Immunoglobulins

[Hippykar]

My immunoglobulins were checked recently and they all came back as normal/at the low end of the scale. Does this mean that I don't have lupus? Are they always raised in lupus?

[Barnclown]

No this doesn't mean you don't have lupus: My Ig G, A, M are all below normal and my lupus diagnosis stands. However, the chief of my rheumatology lupus & Vasculitis clinic referred me for immunology investigations 18 months ago when it became clear that my immunoglobulins were consistently below range. And now I know several other lupus patients who too have consistently low Igs due to the nature of their versions of immune dysfunction & connective tissue disorder. We are long term patients at an internationally famous uk university hospital, so our lupus diagnoses are "respectable"😉

The trick, I think, is to monitor your Ig levels fairly closely now for a while to see if these low results are consistent...and your medics should be reviewing your blood results generally with these Ig results in mind.

I now know that Hypogammaglobulinaemia (consistently below range Igs) can result from various causes, eg:

Side effects of Immunosuppression meds

Chronic untreated autoimmune conditions

Primary immunodeficiency running alongside an autoimmune condition

Chronic infection

Etc etc

Hope this helps

🍀🍀🍀🍀 coco

[Hidden]

Mine were raised this time because I'm not on any treatment so have an elevated IgG and IgA plus all inflammatory markers and ANA positive. But I've only previously been tested when on DMARDs or steroids so I believe this is why they were within normal range then - not because I'm getting more sick than I was. I was told by someone yesterday that raised IgG signifies Lupus and raised IgA signifies Sjogren's. Whether it signifies this to my doctors is quite another thing though!

Are you on any meds that may have influenced the test results at present?

[seanto]

I have the symptoms to back up a diagnosis but my bloods always came back normal. My local consultant refused to treat because of my bloods. So im know seeing a spelicist next month to get to bottom of my problems.

[tremarel]

Nothing to do with lupus so they tell me. Mine was very low & getting infections & shingles all the time so 10 years ago started on immunoglobulin therapy. I've had lupus 35 years & 20 years ago kidney transplant. X