[nancy524]

IgA levels

by nancy524 on Sat Jun 16, 2012 3:03 am

I notice on many of the support sites alot of people list their IgA, IgG levels as a decimal, such as 3.6 etc. I get mine in a whole number which at my last visit was 1120. In comparing mine to a decimal how can I do that, what would 1120 be in a decimal form? It's hard for me to talk with someone when I don't even know what they are talking about. Also does anyone know what the normal range is for IgA? My doctor says between 250 and 600 is a good range. My IgA on my diagnosis in Dec of 2007 was 5280. I am only on Dex at this time and have been off anon Dex for 4 years. I am Stage 1, Asymptomatic IgA Lamda. Thanks for any thing you can give me on this. Nancy

[Ritz]

Re: IgA levels

by Ritz on Sun Jun 17, 2012 12:08 pm

Hi Nancy,

I have the range that my lab uses: IGA 70-400 mg/dl IGG 700-1600 mg/dl IGM 40-230 mg/dl

Another set of specs that I referenced is app. the same as above.
IGA 61-356 IGG767-1590 IGM 37-286

Hope that answers your question at least in part

ritz

[nancy524]

Re: IgA levels

by nancy524 on Sun Jun 17, 2012 3:33 pm

Thanks, this helps some, doc says there are new numbers out compared to what the hospital here is using, but can't find them anywhere. Still don't understand the decimals that some use, but this will work. Nancy

[JimNY]

Re: IgA levels

by JimNY on Sun Jun 17, 2012 4:40 pm

Hi Nancy524,

There may be differences in the units used with your lab work and the lab work reported by others here. See, for example, these posts and discussions:

https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/understanding-mspike-s-different-measuring-system-in-canada-t866.html

https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/always-maintanence-t872-10.html#p4049

It matters whether your lab results are being reported as g/L or mg/dL.

[Dr. Peter Voorhees]

Re: IgA levels

by Dr. Peter Voorhees on Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:01 pm

Dear Nancy524,

Is seems as though your physician gives you the IgG (or IgA level). You are likely getting the results of quantitative immunoglobulin testing. It is a good surrogate marker for what is going on with the myeloma in many instances. But, it is a measure of total IgG (or IgA) -- both IgG (or IgA) produced from normal and malignant plasma cells (myeloma cells). It is not the M spike. It is typically measured in mg/dL.

When you see people writing that there level is 3.6, they are likely referring to their M protein (or M spike), which is derived from the SPEP test. This is a measure of the antibody being made by the myeloma. It is typically measured in g/dL (thus the decimal shift).

So, someone with a new diagnosis of IgA kappa myeloma might have a serum IgA of 4200 mg/dL and an M protein of 3.7 g/dL (or 3700 mg/dL).

Hope this helps!

Pete V.

[dcasill]

Re: IgA levels

by dcasill on Sat Jun 23, 2012 8:20 pm

Was wondering if anyone has an idea how high an IGA level can go and what happens at very high levels? My mother has end stage iga myeloma. There are no other chemotherapy drugs available to treat her. Her kidneys have always been excellent but I recall her Dr. once saying when they were in the 6000's that her kidneys were at risk. I've read so many forums.... just wondering what to expect in the future. Would appreciate any insight. Thanks!
Denise

[Clair]

Re: IgA levels

by Clair on Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:03 am

Hi, my dad has just been dianosed with multiple Myeloma with IgA 32g/L. he also has chronic HPT, DM, Myxcedema... he is 71 years old
please help me understand this...

[Dr. Peter Voorhees]

Re: IgA levels

by Dr. Peter Voorhees on Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:18 pm

Free light chains typically are what do kidney damage. Not intact antibodies (there are exceptions to this). As such, kidney damage in most instances would be dictated by the serum free light chain burden -- not the burden of IgA antibodies. So I do not think that an IgA level of 6000 mg/dL means that the kidneys are in peril, unless the free light chains being produced are also high.

IgA is a large antibody. As such, when the levels get very high, the blood will sometimes get viscous/thick and cause deterioration of the mental status, ringing in the ears or hearing loss, bleeding, shortness of breath, headaches, lightheadedness. This is not that common, though.

I am sorry to hear that things are not going well for your mother. Best wishes to you and your family!

Pete V.

[mxk]

Re: IgA levels

by mxk on Sat Sep 29, 2012 11:43 pm

My sister has multiple myeloma. We were told that in the blood test my sister had, the normal IgA range is 0.82 to 4.53. Before chemotherapy, my sister's IgA was 85. Now it is around 15. We are wondering if she should stop further treatment (since the side effect is relatively strong) and just keep monitoring the level, or she should get more treatment until the number falls into the normal range. Usually, how close to normal does the value need to be before considering stop chemotherapy? Your advice/opinion is greatly appreciated!