Slightly elevated IgG and IgA

[Littlegrass]

A blood test result showing slightly elevated IgG and IgA. Any one has this problem as a side effect of Lupus?

Thanks

[Hidden]

Yes mine are usually elevated about same as yours. I have Sjogrens but I think it is often a Lupus thing too. IgG and IgA are immunoglobulins and can be raised when your immune system is overactive (i.e mistakenly attacking itself) I believe.

[Fezzywig in reply to Hidden]

Well, just to make things more confusing.. I also have Sjogren's Disease along with several other auto immune disorders. In addition, I am a Primary Immune Disease patient. My immunoglobulins, particularly my IgM and my IgG, run very low. The only treatment for my Primary Immune Disease are weekly infusions of IgG to replace or build up my own low levels. I must continue these infusions for life or I will be at even greater risk of contracting infections and diseases. BTW only IgG is available this way for treatment. So anyways, I guess my whole point is that I only know of the very serious risks of low level immunoglobulins, not any risks associated with elevated levels. And it is the low levels that send your immune system into overdrive that causes a host of crazy, never ending problems.

[Fezzywig]

I don't believe that these very small elevations could cause any harm at all. In fact, they might be considered to be a good thing as the higher levels should offer you even more protection against illness than if they were lower. You might want to point it out to your doctor as a precautionary measure, but I can't imagine that there would be any problems at such low levels. With that said, I have never heard of anyone showing results that are significantly higher. We know that variations are universal, but really large differences might present some unique issues, who knows.. I would be curious to hear his opinion. All well wishes your way..

[Hidden in reply to Fezzywig]

It didn't seem to me that Littlegrass was asking if they were causing harm as such. I read that it was was more a question about the possible significance?

And it is my understanding that elevated immunoglobulins are significant because it was my raised IgG along with positive ANA and consistently high ESR that led my rheumy to request my lip biopsy for Sjogrens - which came back a very clear positive.

People with Sjogrens often have very elevated inflammatory markers, immunoglobulins and compliment levels because the concentration of the blood and proteins is greater, due to systemic lack of moisture. Therefore high IgG, IgA, ESR/ PV, CRP, compliment levels and even paired oliglocolonal bands in spinal fluid can be significant of having Sjogrens (high protein levels) rather than of active disease, as with RA and Lupus. I don't think it means that the disease is more likely to protect you when the immunoglobulins are raised though? - at least it hasn't with me! It usually either signifies chronic infection or inflammation. Neither of these is entirely harmless and knowing about these can be helpful as part of the diagnostic process - especially if you are feeling rubbish!

This is what my rheum explained to me when I was diagnosed and tarries with what Paul is saying too. So maybe just differently significant to your low levels, but still pointing to Lupus and SS if symptoms etc do too.

[Littlegrass in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Twithytoes x

[Fezzywig in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the info. I love learning all of this info straight from those of us who actually live the disorders. I don't recall if I mentioned but I also have Sjogrens. There goes the immunoglobulin theories I guess. I also almost always test positive for ANA and very high inflammation levels, usually well over the 100 mark. I'll tell you that I have pretty much given up on trying to make sense of my blood work anymore. My PID doctor, an endochronologist, takes 8 to 10 vials of blood every 3 months and 14 vials every 6 months without fail. I swear the reports are normally over 20 pages long. I used to pour over them at length even after reviewing them with him on each subsequent visit. Good lord, I'm not sure that I ever really knew any more than I did from when I got started. I am almost 70 years old now and this has been going on for decades. It's mind numbing. To my greatest sorrow I was never able to have a healthy, successful pregnancy but I still often think how could I have been so selfish as to put another soul through all of this.. and I do mean that there has been a lot of 'this' there. I guess God and the universe makes that decision for us after all. So sorry to stray off into self indulgence here. Just thanks for being here and being so willing to share your experiences. This kind of support and comrodary never existed for most of us up there in age.

[Hidden in reply to Fezzywig]

I guess most of us learn what we need to learn as part of the quest for information to support our hunches about ourselves or those we love. So you are well informed about immune deficiency disorders and I'm reasonably well informed about autoimmunity. Getting my head around those like yourself and Barnclown, who have both, is beyond me!

But I too have had poor immune system and severe allergies etc all my life so I guess the peramiters shift accordingly as we have never known anything else. In my case I did have three children so was lucky. They are all wonderful despite living with various shades of physical ill health. My sisters were both born profoundly deaf and have successful public sector careers so I've never considered that my problems would hold me back until the misdiagnosed years when it all got me down too much. Knowing what is wrong and feeling believed is the main thing for me.

Interestingly, someone else was saying, on a different forum, that people with Sjogrens often have normal inflammation levels. Again I try to always take my info from reliable sources and Arthritis Research UK state on their Sjogrens page that the ESR is often very high for those with SS for the reason I mention above i.e. high concentration of blood and protein levels due to lack of moisture. Reading this certainly made me wonder why it has taken me six years to get a proper diagnosis of Sjogrens when my sed rate etc were often so high?Confirmation to me that Sjogrens still isn't yet on nearly enough doctors' radars!

Lab tests online has a good page about raised IgG and shows that it points to autoimmunity/CTDs/RA, Multiple Myeloma, , Lymphoma, (us Sjogies at significantly increased risk), chronic infections and other inflammatory conditions I can't recall. So a sign of overactive immune system for sure. Yes this can protect you from common colds I guess - but the more serious impact of overactive immune is felt in our joints, guts, organs, nervous systems and skin everyday.

[Littlegrass in reply to Fezzywig]

Hi Fezzywig,

Totally understand your feelings. I had 2 miscarriages in the past 2 years, with one almost killed me (needed 6 units of blood). This year it seems everyone around me is pregnant which makes sad every time I hear some one is pregnant (Although I am happy for them), just learning to live with it day by day xx thanks for sharing your experience, makes me feel I am not alone....

[Hidden in reply to Littlegrass]

You poor thing that is so hard. Were these miscarriages due to APS? I had several miscarriages and a lot of difficulty conceiving, but I did eventually have 3 children so am one of the lucky ones I know.

But I do remember how awful it felt when those around me were successfully procreating and raising kids when I seemed unable to even get pregnant. I know from affected family members and close friends, how difficult it is to come to terms with.

In my case I think my problems were due to Sjogrens, hypothyroidism and mild APS with hindsight. I guess this is why it's so important that doctors take our diseases seriously enough from the outset and address them relatively early on. X

[Littlegrass in reply to Hidden]

Hi Twitchytoes

Thank you for your kind words and sorry it happen to you as well, it is so hard at times I know!

I was tested negative for APS after the first miscarriage (the bad one),but my Rheumy told me it was tested mildly positive once before.

I am having a Graves flare at the moment and my specialist thinks it was the graves flare caused my recent second misscarriage.

I know it's hard to deal with the emotions esp. around close friends/ families who are pregnant, but I think lupus also taught me how to appreciate the little things in life, which on the other hand, is a gift xx

[Hidden in reply to Littlegrass]

Yes I agree - I'm a great believer in seeing glass half full rather than half empty where possible. I believe it's quite common for APS to be seronegative but all these connective tissue diseases overlap so much. Having Sjogrens increases the risk of miscarriages too and as I am quite certain now that I've had it for decades this makes a lot of sense of why I found it so hard to conceive (my hubby passed all the tests) and why I lost two pregnancies. Also one of my sons was born with a very pronounced butterfly rash and has several symptoms of a connective tissue disease now too but he ignores these presently.

I wish you all the luck in the world with whatever you do. When I'm feeling low about my lack of energy/ fatigue and pain I think of what professor Stephen Hawkins has achieved against all the odds and snap out of it fast! X

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK]

Hi Littlegrass ,

An immunoglobulin test measures the level of certain immunoglobulins, or antibodies, in the blood. IgA is often raised in people with SLE. The raised IgG could possibly be the result of your lupus or it could indicate a chronic infection. Has your doctor made any comments about the results?

[Littlegrass in reply to Paul_Howard]

Thanks Paul for your reply!

My GP suggested I keep an eye on it, at the moment not to get worried about it.

[Sheole]

Yes mine are similar too. Just slightly. My Sed rate is consisttiently high. I have no diagnoses other than Rheumy saying '' suspected auto immune ''.

[Littlegrass in reply to Sheole]

Thanks Sheole. X

[Sarah4314]

Funny you posted this I just got my results back and my igm is in the high 400s (range 26-217)... haven't heard from doctor yet so not sure what it means in context of my history.

[Littlegrass in reply to Sarah4314]

Keep me posted Sarah x