I am wondering what, if any, damage to vital body organs can result from consistently low serum immunoglobulin levels.
In my own case, all three – i.e., IgA, IgG, and IgM – have been quite low for about the last four or five months. Fortunately, I have not had any infections so far (perhaps the acyclovir I have been taking has something to do with this?; it's just a thought), and I do understand that it is serious infections that are the real worry. But I wonder if the heart, the kidneys, the liver, etc., can also be impacted by low immunoglobulins, infections of those organs aside.
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Re: Effect of consistently low immunoglobulin levels?
mrozdav,
I can share with you what my doctor has told me – namely, that immunoglobulin deficiencies make you much more vulnerable to infection. I don't believe the condition directly damages organs, except through allowing infections to do so.
I believe acyclovir is a specific treatment for the various types of herpes virus-based diseases, such as shingles and chicken pox. It does not eliminate the virus, but does suppress its level of activity.
The best source of information about these types of questions is your doctor.
There are good treatments for immunodeficiency. In my case, I receive an IVIG infusion once a month.
I can share with you what my doctor has told me – namely, that immunoglobulin deficiencies make you much more vulnerable to infection. I don't believe the condition directly damages organs, except through allowing infections to do so.
I believe acyclovir is a specific treatment for the various types of herpes virus-based diseases, such as shingles and chicken pox. It does not eliminate the virus, but does suppress its level of activity.
The best source of information about these types of questions is your doctor.
There are good treatments for immunodeficiency. In my case, I receive an IVIG infusion once a month.
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MrPotatohead - Name: MrPotatohead
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 65
Re: Effect of consistently low immunoglobulin levels?
Thank you, Mr. Potatohead. It is as I suspected.
I agree with you that these kind of questions are best answered by one's doctor. However, many times the questions occur to one when the next doctor's appointment is a month or three down the road. There are so many knowledgeable and experienced participants (such as yourself) in this forum that it is tempting to post to see what others can tell about a given matter. Moreover, I think it often helps to have one's doctors' explanations confirmed by others who have experienced similar circumstances.
I agree with you that these kind of questions are best answered by one's doctor. However, many times the questions occur to one when the next doctor's appointment is a month or three down the road. There are so many knowledgeable and experienced participants (such as yourself) in this forum that it is tempting to post to see what others can tell about a given matter. Moreover, I think it often helps to have one's doctors' explanations confirmed by others who have experienced similar circumstances.
Re: Effect of consistently low immunoglobulin levels?
I could not agree with you more, mrozdav.
I have benefited greatly by asking these types of questions on the Forum. The Beacon site is a fantastic resource, and I turn to it frequently.
Good luck with your treatment!
I have benefited greatly by asking these types of questions on the Forum. The Beacon site is a fantastic resource, and I turn to it frequently.
Good luck with your treatment!
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MrPotatohead - Name: MrPotatohead
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 65
Re: Effect of consistently low immunoglobulin levels?
Hi Mrozdav,
You've asked a good question.
From what I can tell, if your IgG and IgM levels are consistently suppressed, the main risk is that you'll experience more infections than someone with normal IgG and/or IgM levels. If these infections do occur often, and are intense, they can cause organ damage. For example, serious ear infections can cause organ damage. But I the organ damage is a result of the infections, not the low levels of IgG and/or IgM.
It's a bit more complicated when it comes to IgA. Once again, infections are a common consequence, but it seems that low levels of IgA also make a person more susceptible to gastrointestinal disorders and also to autoimmune disorders. This is due to the fact that IgA is the main immunoglobulin found in mucosal secretions, including everything from tears and saliva to the secretions that protect the stomach and intestines.
So, if the low IgA levels lead to GI issues and autoimmune disorders, then these also might impact different organs. As with the other immunoglobulins, however, the impact would be indirect, rather than direct.
I found a lot of this subject by just searching for "IgG deficiency", "IgA deficiency," etc. The results you'll find usually deal with extreme cases of each of these deficiencies, but they give you a sense what might happen in less extreme situations.
Here, for example, is a paper I found on what is known as "selective IgA deficiency", a condition where someone has very low, or no, IgA, but normal levels of other immunoglobulins:
L Yel, "Selective IgA Deficiency", Journal of Clinical Immunology, Jan 2010 (full text at PubMed).
I hope this helps a bit.
You've asked a good question.
From what I can tell, if your IgG and IgM levels are consistently suppressed, the main risk is that you'll experience more infections than someone with normal IgG and/or IgM levels. If these infections do occur often, and are intense, they can cause organ damage. For example, serious ear infections can cause organ damage. But I the organ damage is a result of the infections, not the low levels of IgG and/or IgM.
It's a bit more complicated when it comes to IgA. Once again, infections are a common consequence, but it seems that low levels of IgA also make a person more susceptible to gastrointestinal disorders and also to autoimmune disorders. This is due to the fact that IgA is the main immunoglobulin found in mucosal secretions, including everything from tears and saliva to the secretions that protect the stomach and intestines.
So, if the low IgA levels lead to GI issues and autoimmune disorders, then these also might impact different organs. As with the other immunoglobulins, however, the impact would be indirect, rather than direct.
I found a lot of this subject by just searching for "IgG deficiency", "IgA deficiency," etc. The results you'll find usually deal with extreme cases of each of these deficiencies, but they give you a sense what might happen in less extreme situations.
Here, for example, is a paper I found on what is known as "selective IgA deficiency", a condition where someone has very low, or no, IgA, but normal levels of other immunoglobulins:
L Yel, "Selective IgA Deficiency", Journal of Clinical Immunology, Jan 2010 (full text at PubMed).
I hope this helps a bit.
Re: Effect of consistently low immunoglobulin levels?
Thanks, TerryH. This is quite valuable for me.
Re: Effect of consistently low immunoglobulin levels?
TerryH and others, I had an appointment with my myeloma specialist at Hopkins yesterday. We discussed my low immunoglobulins among other issues. She indicated that I would probably live with this condition for the rest of my life. She said that low test results in all three immunoglobulin categories are very common. The risk is, as others here have noted, more frequent and serious infections, and I would always have to be on the alert for that. While patients, when appropriate, can get infusions of IgG (the "workhorse" among the immunoglobulins), such infusions are not given to counter low levels of IgA (my involved immuoglobulin). I found this latter point surprising and interesting.
Re: Effect of consistently low immunoglobulin levels?
Thanks for this update, Mrozdav. I really appreciate it.
To be honest, I've never even heard that it's possible to give someone an infusion of IgA. All you ever really hear about is IgG infusions. It probably is possible to get an IgA infusion, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's VERY expensive. IgG infusions alone are quite expensive.
The other thing I found out through a quick check is that the half life of IgA in the body is noticeably shorter than the half life of IgG -- about 5-8 days for IgA (and IgM), compared to about 20 days for IgG. See this link for more info:
http://www.nature.com/nrd/journal/v2/n1/box/nrd984_BX1.html
So perhaps availability, cost, and the short half life of IgA, combined with the fact that IgG probably plays the biggest role in defending against infections, are the reason for what your doctor told you about IgA infusions being rare.
Thanks again,
Terry
To be honest, I've never even heard that it's possible to give someone an infusion of IgA. All you ever really hear about is IgG infusions. It probably is possible to get an IgA infusion, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's VERY expensive. IgG infusions alone are quite expensive.
The other thing I found out through a quick check is that the half life of IgA in the body is noticeably shorter than the half life of IgG -- about 5-8 days for IgA (and IgM), compared to about 20 days for IgG. See this link for more info:
http://www.nature.com/nrd/journal/v2/n1/box/nrd984_BX1.html
So perhaps availability, cost, and the short half life of IgA, combined with the fact that IgG probably plays the biggest role in defending against infections, are the reason for what your doctor told you about IgA infusions being rare.
Thanks again,
Terry
Re: Effect of consistently low immunoglobulin levels?
Terry, It is just as you describe. My doctor actually said that IgA is never given, and IgM is also not given (although I cannot recall that she said NEVER for the IgM).
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