Re: Levels

[Guest guest]

Nikki,

Thanks for the info. I have found it to be very informative. One quick

note about the iga in blood transfusions. I found this info on my own and

brought it to the docs attention. They didn't think to tell me about it(go

figure!).

Donna & Walt-iga absent-asthma-ulcer-chronic everything

[Guest guest]

Hi - I'm an inveterate lurker on the list (as Ursula will tell you) - one

day i will get round to posting my story!

I have two Iga def girls so i felt the need to reply to this one. The level

of less than 0 could simply be that thier test couldn't pick up any IgA but

that they don't like to put = as the tests are generally not 100% sensitive.

has a less than score which we have been told they regard as

" virtually zero " until shes six when the same count would be =zero. The

test simply can't dfetect accurately beyond a certain level (although i have

to agree that <0 seems a wierd concept)

Neither of my two are on IVIG - certainly over here it is not used very

often on IgA def patients even if there is an associated IgG

subclass/antibody def too. It isn't used unless there are IgG problems

because it doesn't get the IgA to where it is needed so won't replace it

anyway - or so i have been told.

The sinuses are one of s weak spots too - they get very nasty if not

hit hard with abx as soon as an infection starts and we use steriod nasal

spray a lot too.

As for " selective IgA def " and Bryony are both classified as this

because it is the book name but then they have to write in " also IgG

subclass 2 & 4 " so to me it makes little sense. The selective bit sort of

implies thats all that is wrong but the vast majority of folks with this

that i have talked to seem to have another little def too. i think maybe

they named it in the days before thay could do the IgG subclass tests so all

they found was the IgA problem - anyone know?

BTW i'm sure that you know total IgA def is fairly rare but if you do have

it then there is a slight risk of allergic reaction if you are given blood

products containing IgA. That would i think determine your choice of IVIG

if you had it but applies equally well to things like blood transfusions.

Thats my two happorth for the week )

Happy days all of you

nikki

Levels

>From: WNo5039051@...

>

>Hi everyone! Hope everyone is doing well! I have a question. Walt went to

see

>his " new " immunologist on tuesday. I asked to see his levels(iga, igg,

igm).

>This is the first time I had ever seen them. The iga levels showed less

than

>0. How can a level be less than 0? His igg was low-normal, and igm was

>normal. He had not been tested for any other levels or subclasses. Does

>anyone know if these levels mean " IGA Deficiency " . He did not say

> " selective " , or any other term other than iga deficiency. They did however

>take 10 vials of blood to retest him for ALL levels, including subclass. I

>should know in 10 days what they are. It also seems strange this doc does

not

>believe in IVIG. He said if a child is on his deathbed they would start

ivig

>but not if he is just " sick all the time " . Any suggestions?

>May GOD be with us all and keep our children healthy and happy!

>Donna & Walt-iga absent-asthma-chronic everything

>p.s. He still has his sinus infection that he has had since october. CT

scan

>showed inf deep in the sinus cavities. Doc thinks it's from allergies?!?

>

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Primary Immune Deficiency. Opinions or medical advice stated here are the

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