Hi All,
I have been tracking my IgM MGUS kappa levels for 5 years. They have been stable at 2 g/l (0.2 g/dL, or 200 mg/dL), but then in October the level started to rise; it was 3 g/l in October and now 4 g/l in July.
It may be a long shot, but I looked at what may have changed in my life that could have contributed to the rise. I identified the following.
First, I'm a long-time user of Lexapro (escitalopram) and understand that, although unlikely, there have been cases where long-term use of Lexapro could lead to hepatitis.
Second, the first increase in IgM happened at the same time they found that I had fatty liver (raised ALT levels). My ALT levels dropped when I stopped using Lipitor (atorvastatin), but increased again when I was placed on alternative cholesterol medications. The July IgM level rise was measured when they found the Lipitor alternative is also causing my ALT levels to go up.
So I'm wondering, given that both cases above involve inflammation of the liver, could this have caused the rise in my IgM levels?
I read a few research documents and only found early research into cholesterol medications decreasing IGM levels. The research found that was not the case.
Just wondering if any of you have any thoughts on the matter. I am discussing it with my doctors. They have not dismissed it, but I just think they are being kind and don't want to dampen my spirits.
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Aussie - Name: Assue
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Nil
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 37
Re: Inflammation and IgM levels
Hi Aussie,
When you say your IgM has been going up, do you mean your monoclonal IgM has been going up, as measured by your M-spike (paraprotein) level? Or are you concerned about your overall IgM level going up?
If the values you have listed are for your total IgM, which includes both monoclonal (abnormal) IgM and normal, polyclonal IgM, then your total IgM levels have not been very high.
One "reference range" (normal range) for IgM that you will find is
IgM 37-286 mg/dL (or 0.037 to 0.286 g/dL, or 0.37 to 2.86 g/l)
so a total IgM level of 3 g/l, for example, is barely above the normal range.
That makes me wonder if the values you are reporting are your monoclonal IgM levels, not your total IgM levels.
When you say your IgM has been going up, do you mean your monoclonal IgM has been going up, as measured by your M-spike (paraprotein) level? Or are you concerned about your overall IgM level going up?
If the values you have listed are for your total IgM, which includes both monoclonal (abnormal) IgM and normal, polyclonal IgM, then your total IgM levels have not been very high.
One "reference range" (normal range) for IgM that you will find is
IgM 37-286 mg/dL (or 0.037 to 0.286 g/dL, or 0.37 to 2.86 g/l)
so a total IgM level of 3 g/l, for example, is barely above the normal range.
That makes me wonder if the values you are reporting are your monoclonal IgM levels, not your total IgM levels.
Re: Inflammation and IgM levels
Hi,
Yes, I am referring to my M-spike / monoclonal IgM levels.
They just recently started to increase 1 g/l (0.1 g/dL) per quarter.
I know it's a long shot, but it happened in the same period when I developed fatty liver due to the cholesterol medications I was taking.
Yes, I am referring to my M-spike / monoclonal IgM levels.
They just recently started to increase 1 g/l (0.1 g/dL) per quarter.
I know it's a long shot, but it happened in the same period when I developed fatty liver due to the cholesterol medications I was taking.
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Aussie - Name: Assue
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Nil
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 37
3 posts
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