Immunoglobulin A
(IgA) is an antibody blood protein that’s part of your immune system. Your body makes IgA and other type of antibodies to help fight off sickness. Having an IgA deficiency
What is a normal IgA level?
The IgA normal range differs with age and the IgA normal range for an healthy adult is
between 80 – 350 mg/dL
.
What does it mean if your IgA is high?
A Signal of Chronic Inflammation/Infection
High IgA can indicate chronic inflammation or an infection. Most labs consider values above 400 mg/dL in adults high. The upper limit varies by age and is lower in children and adolescents. There are no symptoms associated with high IgA levels.
What does an IgA test show?
An IgA test
measures the blood level of immunoglobulin A
, one of the most common types of antibodies in the body. Antibodies (also called immunoglobulins) are proteins the immune system makes to recognize and get rid of germs.
Is it good to have high IgA?
Both low and high IgA levels are
associated with higher mortality
. In 4,255 Vietnam-era war veterans, higher IgA levels were associated with a 2-fold increased risk of dying from both all-causes and infectious diseases [12]. In people aged 90 – 99 years, higher IgA levels were associated with higher mortality [13].
What does a positive IgA test mean?
The finding of
tissue transglutaminase
(tTG)-IgA antibodies is specific for celiac disease and possibly for dermatitis herpetiformis. For individuals with moderately to strongly positive results, a diagnosis of celiac disease is likely and the patient should undergo biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
How do I lower my IgA levels?
Your doctor may suggest steps you can take to reduce inflammation. Some complementary approaches include
yoga, herbal supplements
(curcumin), and following a healthy diet. Studies suggest that cocoa, avoiding heavy drinking, and refraining from fasting may also reduce inflammation and lower IgA levels.
What does a low IgA blood test mean?
Having an IgA deficiency means
that you have low levels of or no IgA in your blood
. IgA is found in mucous membranes, mainly in the respiratory and digestive tracts. It is also found saliva, tears, and breastmilk. A deficiency seems to play a part in asthma and allergies.
What is considered low IgA?
Any IgA value
below 60 mg/dL
is considered low by most labs, but only values below 7 mg/dL imply deficiency. Symptoms depend on the underlying cause. Chronic stress, poor sleep, exhaustion, and certain genetic disorders may all lead to low IgA levels or deficiency.
Is IgA high or low in celiac disease?
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency is 10 to 15 times more common in
patients with celiac disease (CD) than in healthy subjects. Serological tests have become the preferred methods of diagnosing CD in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.
What is the function of IgA?
IgA accounts for more than two-thirds of the body’s total immunoglobulin production. IgA serves as an
important first-line barrier limiting the access of intestinal antigens to the gut mucosa
, controls the intestinal microbiota and dampens pro-inflammatory immune responses.
What tests are done to check immune system?
Since most of your immune ‘security guards’ live in your blood and bone marrow, a blood test is the primary way to check if your immune system is deficient.
A Complete Blood Count (CBC) Lab Draw
evaluates your numbers of white blood cells and antibodies to determine if your levels are cause for concern.
What is the normal range of IgG?
Reference range/units
Normal Ranges Adult: IgG
6.0 – 16.0g/L
. IgA 0.8 – 3.0g/L.
What is IgA disease?
IgA nephropathy is
a chronic kidney disease
. It progresses over 10 to 20 years, and it can lead to end-stage renal disease. It is caused by deposits of the protein immunoglobulin A (IgA) inside the filters (glomeruli) in the kidney.
What does celiac poop look like?
Diarrhea. Although people often think of diarrhea as watery stool, people with celiac disease sometimes simply have stools that
are a bit looser than usual
– and more frequent. Typically, diarrhea associated with celiac disease occurs after eating.
Can a positive celiac blood test mean something else?
A positive genetic test result
does not mean that you have celiac disease
—since 55% of the general population have HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 compared to 98% of the celiac population10 —but it can exclude celiac disease as a cause if neither of the antigens is detected. Following a gluten-free diet can be challenging.
