Low IgA

My doc tests my immunoglobulins. Everything was in range except IgA, which was low at 73 (range 87-352).

This is the first immunoglobulin to be out of range. Anyone else have low IgA? What does this mean?
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Other labs out of range (Labcorp):

Chloride - low at 95 (96-106)
Albumin - high at 4.9 (3.8-4.8)
A/G Ratio - high at 2.3 (1.2-2.2)
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Concerns:

WBC is in the lab range, which is now lower than it was in past years. Range on this test was 3.4 - 10.8. My WBC was 3.7.

I recently read some CIRS literature that said mold will cause WBC to be between 3-4. My doctors have never commented on my WBC or RBC levels. RBC is usually in the 4’s. This time was 4.25 (3.77 - 5.28).
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I asked doc for anti-gliadin antibodies test. She responded that she sent in an order for Celiac panel. Not sure what all that includes - if it’s the AGA or more than that. We’ll see.

CIRS labs indicate mold exposure again. TGFB-1 has to be done still, as the lab did the wrong test. C4a was high according to lab range. MMP9 was much higher but still below Shoemaker’s range. VEGF was high when it used ti be low.

Chlamydia pneumonia is positive again both IgG and IgM. In January, it was IgM negative for the first time in 4 years.

CD57 was still pretty good at 81. This lab and the last one have zero positive bands on WB. All WB’s done between 2016-2019 had positive band 41 IgG.

It’s really disconcerting the effect that labs have on me. I know it shouldn’t but it does. Improvement in labs can lift my spirits and give me hopefulness. Bad labs can make me feel like a sinking ship.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=4192792#gsc.tab=0


***This is my general summary of various immune system cells and what they do from above thread which I posted this comment earlier this year*****:


Ive had to learn this since I have it; .....well, both: a suppressed immune system (which goes by various names depending on specifics) and autoimmune (which also have various specific names sometimes organ related).

A suppressed immune system and advanced autoimmune are different, obviously related and not uncommonly go hand in hand.

A "Suppressed immune system" can be temporary, born with (1980's "bubble boy"), or adult acquired and also has known genes associated with it.

Some tests on the comprehensive metabolic panel such as white blood cell count and globulin (liver immune protien) are a good first glance of your immune system in addition to the CD57 (bottom of this post).

White blood cells are :
-granulocytes: (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils), monocytes,
and
-lymphocytes: (T cells, Natural Killer cells, B, B regulatory, and B Memory cells). "B memory" are your "immunity" cells(!)

T cells mature in the Thymus organ, thus the "T" name.

Globulin : A protien - three types actually; alpha (1 and2) , beta (1 and 2), and gamma. **Gamma globulins, (!!!) are immune protiens and almost all gamma globulins are known as immunoglobulins**, also called antibodies, which help with immune responses and immunity. Alpha and beta globulins are transport proteins, moving stuff in your blood (transport of lipids, hormones ect), they are not immune proteins. Albumin proties is similar and transports of bilirubin, hormones, metals, vitamins, and drugs

The 5 "immunoglobulin classes" (**** = important for us):

1) Immunoglobulin A (IgA), which is found in high concentrations in the mucous membranes, particularly those lining the respiratory passages and gastrointestinal tract, as well as in saliva and tears.

2)*****Immunoglobulin G (IgG), the most abundant type of antibody, is found in all body fluids and protects against bacterial and viral infections.****

3)***** Immunoglobulin M (IgM), which is found mainly in the blood and lymph fluid, is the first antibody to be made by the body to fight a new infection.*****

4)Immunoglobulin E (IgE), which is associated mainly with allergic reactions (when the immune system overreacts to environmental antigens such as pollen or pet dander). It is found in the lungs, skin, and mucous membranes.

5) Immunoglobulin D (IgD), which exists in small amounts in the blood, is the least understood antibody.

Note: there are also sub-classes under these 5 above, those under IgG being most important

-------------------------------

**Low Gamma Globulin** is termed "Hypogammaglobulinemia" and is considered a health risk for infection:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hypogammaglobulinemia

Hypogammaglobulinemia is one of the Common Variable Immune Deficiency "disorders" (CVID) and its rarity is said to be anywhere from 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 30,000:
https:// https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/common-variable-immune-deficiency/

I find these odds hard to believe, it must be much more common than that in the lyme world. If only more would test, we would no.

[I am one, (under the low limit) and fortunantly not sick either. Had a light dry cough for two weeks, felt hot but no fever (took my immune support supps and its gone), fingers crossed.

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CD57 : "Lymies", as already stated, are sometimes familiar with CD57 also known as HNK1 (Human Natural Killer-1) which measures T lymphocytes and positive NK cells only; its an average combined measurement of both. That might be why its said to be inaccurate, but its accurate enough to justify further individual subclass testing, which is something most regular Drs, rarely, if ever have done before.

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Important- As explained to me by two immunologists and a phone call with a university medical immunology professor, all these tests measure "volume" of these immune cells.

They kept telling me this is not the same as immune cell "strength" which is not really measurable. How they test this is by certain vaccines - and how you react to them and then measuring antibodies hoping they went up . I declined this test.

In my case, I also had tests for bone marrow diseases (Leukemia) since it can be related to low immune cells. Im good.

*

Post Edited (astroman) : 8/27/2020 9:50:31 AM (GMT-6)

Hi, WBF. I understand wanting to see some sort of concrete evidence that we are getting better when we get lab work done. I'm sorry that this round of tests wasn't comforting.

VEGF - This can be high with Bartonella, right? And low VEGF is associated with mold? So maybe this is good news in terms of mold, even if bad news in terms of infections.

MMP-9 being in range seems like good news. Your CD57 isn't bad for someone with Lyme. In fact, most of your levels look like they are just the tiniest bit out of range. Values change throughout the day, so I doubt there's much to worry about with all those borderline numbers.

C4a can be high from more than just mold, as I know you know. Was it higher than your numbers have been the past?

How did you address the Chlamydia in the past? How did it present for you in terms of symptoms?

Regarding chlamydia pneum (cpn) - i’d wonder if that plays a larger role. When i first got ill i found the site cpnhelp.org. The guy that started it helped his wife. Her symptoms were very similar to mine. But I test negative for cpn (igg and igm).

One of my immunoglobulins was on the lower side - i’ll look it up tomorrow.

k07,

I looked into that site years ago after first testing positive, but all I can remember is it sounded really hard and complicated, so I just tried to use Buhner’s protocol as a guide for that.

Living in my car (out of constant mold) was probably the best treatment I did.

UPDATE:

I asked for a Celiac Panel after seeing the low IgA. Results for celiac are all negative. IgA was retested at the same time and dropped another point from 73 to 72. Normal range is 87-352.

Johns Hopkins site says this:

“There is no cure for IgA deficiency. Immunotherapy does not work to treat it. But you can take steps to lower your risk for illness or infection. These include taking antibiotics when you get sick. If infections are ongoing (chronic), you may need to take antibiotics every day.”
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This has never happened before, and I feel so discouraged. Is there really no way to increase IgA?

I have a phone appointment on Oct 10th with the doctor.

All kinds of stuff has happened to me since moving in that house. I started having vaginal odor and the GYN prescribed 7 days of Flagyl for presumed bacterial vaginosis. The Flagyl did nothing for the odor. It’s even worse now.

I had scaly things suddenly come up on a large brown spot on my leg. Two biopsies were taken - benign. Now I expelling either yeast or ropeworm type stuff in my stool again, have itchy ears and scalp. I now wonder what the scaly stuff on my leg was.