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Iga Deficiency

Rachel--24

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Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted

Is Iga definciency anything to be concerned about when getting bloodtests? Does anyone here have an IgA deficiency? When I was tested last year I wasn't given the full panel so I only had Anti-Gliadin IgA and tTG done. They were negative but I was off gluten 2 weeks. My Enterolab tests were all positive although my numbers weren't that high in comparison to other results I've seen. However, my malabsorption score was the highest I've seen on here which corresponds to my symptoms as well. Enterolab says the numbers arent an indication of severity and a low number can cause the same reaction as the highest number. I'm just wondering if a person with low numbers could have IgA deficiency or does IgA deficiency mean no IgA is present at all? Anyone know?

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ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Is Iga definciency anything to be concerned about when getting bloodtests? Does anyone here have an IgA deficiency?

Yes it is a great concern. I do apparently have a deficency, at one time I was going to Strong Hospital (one of the best) to see neuros and rhumetologists (sp) each time I had 12 tubes of blood taken, (no joke, my phlebotomist won a pool one day) each time they tested for celiac, no tTg then, every time negative. A couple years later after they finally diagnosed me and tested kids they showed up in blood work. When I asked why I didn't the GI just shrugged and said I must be Iga deficent. Does anyone know if it does anything else other than scew test results?

Carriefaith Enthusiast
Carriefaith
Posted

Here is some info I found on it:

"Celiac.com 12/31/2002 - Background: Immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency is 10-15 times more common in patients with Celiac Disease (celiac disease) than in normal subjects. Serological tests have become the preferred methods of detecting both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with celiac disease. However, commercially available serological methods are limited in that they detect only the IgA isotype of antibodies (with the exception of IgG gliadin assays); hence, IgA deficient celiac disease patients may yield false negative serology."

I would think that if a celiac is deficient in IgA he/she would produce barely any or no IgA. I hope this helps!

Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for your replies.

I think I'm gonna have them test me for that just so its not always in the back of my head and because I never got the full panel or the IgG test...only IgA. Also Enterolab says my malabsorption is most likely due to gluten since I had elevated antibodies but other people have much higher antibodies and no malabsorption. I figure I'm either IgA deficient or my damage/malabsorption is caused by more than just gluten. <_<

Enterolab said I need to maintain a strict gluten-free diet to prevent further damage and I know its true but I still worry about other causes as well.

Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted
  • Author
Yes it is a great concern. I do apparently have a deficency, at one time I was going to Strong Hospital (one of the best) to see  neuros and rhumetologists (sp) each time I had 12 tubes of blood taken, (no joke, my phlebotomist won a pool one day) each time they tested for celiac, no tTg then, every time negative. A couple years later after they finally diagnosed me and tested kids they showed up in blood work. When I asked why I didn't the GI just shrugged and said I must be Iga deficent.  Does anyone know if it does anything else other than scew test results?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So you were tested more than once and kept coming back negative? How did you end up positive after all that time? Also your sig. says you were sick 15 yrs....how are you doing now after being gluten-free for a couple years?

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
So you were tested more than once and kept coming back negative?  How did you end up positive after all that time? Also your sig. says you were sick 15 yrs....how are you doing now after being gluten-free for a couple years?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have never shown up positive, just the kids did. It was finally discovered in me when they were getting ready to do surgery for rectal incontinence (had that for over 5 years, no wonder I'm still agoraphobic!) the surgeon sent me to a PT to get me in better condition and she nagged at every visit for me to see an allergist. He guided me through an elimination diet and that finally found it. The incontinence issue was caused by a combo of the neurological effects of the celiac, mine was so severe I had difficulty moving my legs and they thought for a long time I had MS,and 15 years straingt of diarrhea. I am now almost 3 years past diagnosis, Nov. 20, 2002. I feel great most of the time now unless I get 'got'. ALL neurological symptoms are gone and I was able to walk without canandian canes within 2 months gluten-free. I caught myself running upstairs 3 months post diagnosis, when my brain realized what I was doing I just sat and cried at the top of the stairs till my daughter found me. Then she cried with me. My hair has grown back, and what is filling in the bald spots is brown not white, and my tummy problems and depression are non-existant. I stopped all meds before the elimination diet, including my pain meds, and after 3 months gluten-free tossed them all in the toilet one Sunday afternoon. Boy I'll bet the fish got doped up that day with all the antispasmotics, tranquilizers and pain meds they got. I have never had to take anything but baby asprin since. It did take about 2 years for everything to heal though I think. I say that because about 2 years after being gluten-free I gained 15 lbs. in one month! I am now a more 'normal' weight of about 115 at 5'4". It can take awhile for things to get better, and everyone is different but I thank God everyday for that PT and send her and the Allergist a couple cards a year. I say they gave me my life back, they say it was just their job. Too bad all doctors aren't like them

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

I think that it's something like 10-20% of celiacs are IgA deficient - not a majority, but not a tiny percentage by any means.

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Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted
  • Author

Ravenwoodglass,

Thank you for sharing your story...it really made me feel better about things seeing how much you've improved on the diet. :)

Its too bad they took so long to find out what was making you sick...it was only 3 years for me but feels like much longer.

  • 5 years later...
ddennis11 Newbie
ddennis11
Posted

Ravenwoodglass,

Thank you for sharing your story...it really made me feel better about things seeing how much you've improved on the diet. :)

Its too bad they took so long to find out what was making you sick...it was only 3 years for me but feels like much longer.

I was wondering did you immunoglobulin A increase after being on gluten-free? My 12 year has a Immunoglobulin A of 29 with a high gluten antibody count. The celiac screening was negative (maybe due to the low IGA). Allergist says she is gluten intolerant and to go gluten-free. Did not see need to any other testing. Having such a low IGa can result in other issues as she get older is my understanding so I was wondering if it got "better" with the life-style change. Currently no symptoms but in 1st and 2nd grade had bad stomach issues until she was gluten free for a couple of years. Pediatric dr said to do a challenge and she did fine. Her IGA six years ago was 45 so it has gotten lower over the years.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

I was wondering did you immunoglobulin A increase after being on gluten-free? My 12 year has a Immunoglobulin A of 29 with a high gluten antibody count. The celiac screening was negative (maybe due to the low IGA). Allergist says she is gluten intolerant and to go gluten-free. Did not see need to any other testing. Having such a low IGa can result in other issues as she get older is my understanding so I was wondering if it got "better" with the life-style change. Currently no symptoms but in 1st and 2nd grade had bad stomach issues until she was gluten free for a couple of years. Pediatric dr said to do a challenge and she did fine. Her IGA six years ago was 45 so it has gotten lower over the years.

My total IGA has never been tested to my knowledge. I suspect it is at normal levels though since I haven't even caught a cold since I was diagnosed.

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