High IgA levels mean your immune system is producing more of this antibody, often signaling chronic infections, inflammation, liver disease, or autoimmune issues like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or Celiac Disease; very high levels can point towards blood cancers like multiple myeloma, but further tests are needed to find the specific cause, as it could also relate to obesity or diabetes complications.
Increased serum immunoglobulin concentrations occur due to polyclonal or oligoclonal immunoglobulin proliferation in hepatic disease (hepatitis, liver cirrhosis), connective tissue diseases, acute and chronic infections, as well as in the cord blood of neonates with intrauterine and perinatal infections.
Some people with an IgA deficiency are more likely to get frequent infections. These problems can include sinus, lung, and digestive infections.
IgA nephropathy (nuh-FROP-uh-thee), also known as Berger disease, is a kidney disease. It happens when a germ-fighting protein called immunoglobulin A (IgA) builds up in the kidneys. This causes a type of swelling called inflammation that, over time, can make it harder for the kidneys to filter waste from the blood.
Fatigue is a very common and often debilitating symptom of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). It is linked to disease progression and reduced kidney function, but other factors like inflammation, anemia, and mental health also play a role.
IgA nephropathy cannot be cured, but medications can help slow it down. Treatment may be necessary to reduce inflammation, decrease protein in the urine, and prevent kidney failure. Managing blood pressure and cholesterol levels is also needed to prevent complications.
Academic examination stress induced significant increases in serum IgA, IgG, IgM, and α2-M in students with high-stress perception, but not in these with low-stress perception.
Levels of gut permeability marker, zonulin are higher in stool samples of lupus patients. Fecal IgA-total and IgA-subclass levels are higher in SLE patients and the IgA levels correlate with the SLEDAI scores. Fecal IgA and its IgA subclasses in lupus patients show higher nuclear antigen (nAg) reactivity.
The IgA (immunoglobulin A) blood test checks the level of IgA in the blood. The test helps doctors diagnose problems with the immune system, like frequent infections. Kids might need to stop taking certain medicines or not eat or drink before the blood test.
A variety of systemic diseases are associated with aggressive IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease) such as liver failure, cancer, celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, heart failure, reactive arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and HIV.
The IgA class is important for celiac testing.” Then you'll receive a screen test called the Tissue Transglutaminase IgA antibody or tTG-IgA, an antibody against an enzyme found in the lining of your GI tract. When these levels are elevated, it is a likely sign that you're at risk for celiac disease.
The cause of IgA nephropathy is unknown, but research suggests that genes and the environment may play a role. In some people, the first signs or symptoms of the disease may become noticeable after a cold, sore throat, or other respiratory infection.
Elevated IgA “could indicate an infection,” Dr. Kin said. “Very high levels would be concerning for cancer.” High IgA is often seen in patients with multiple myeloma. In these cases, the high IgA results from abnormal immune cells producing excess amounts of the protein.
Lupus causes swelling and irritation, called inflammation, that may affect joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs. Lupus can be hard to diagnose because its symptoms often are like those of other illnesses. A common sign of lupus is a facial rash that looks like butterfly wings across both cheeks.
Lupus and Sjogren's syndrome are both autoimmune diseases. Up to 5.5 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with lupus or Sjogren's syndrome. However, Sjogren's syndrome occurs up to three times more than lupus, but one-third of lupus patients also have Sjogren's syndrome.
Early signs of myeloma often include vague symptoms like persistent fatigue, bone pain (back, hips, ribs), frequent infections, unexplained bruising or bleeding, shortness of breath, and kidney issues (like frequent urination), though it can be asymptomatic early on and found in routine blood tests, leading to symptoms like thirst, confusion (from high calcium), or weakness. Because these symptoms can mimic other conditions, seeing a doctor for ongoing issues is crucial for proper diagnosis.
In people with multiple myeloma, 70% have high levels of IgG protein, 20% have high levels of IgA and 5–10% produce only immunoglobulin light chains (Bence-Jones proteins).
Stage 1 multiple myeloma features low beta-2 microglobulin, high albumin, and no organ damage, often detected incidentally. Diagnosis involves blood, urine, imaging tests, and bone marrow biopsy to confirm abnormal plasma cells and assess cytogenetics.
There aren't any specific treatments for high or low IgA levels. But if you have an underlying condition that's causing changes in your IgA levels, a healthcare provider can often treat that specific condition. Antibiotics usually treat frequent infections caused by low levels of IgA.
Levels of IgA are also higher in some autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and in liver diseases, such as cirrhosis and long-term (chronic) hepatitis.
Adult literature suggests that serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels may function as such a biomarker (5,6). Serum IgA levels are often elevated in patients with alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) (7).
The most common symptom is blood in the urine (hematuria). It takes many years to progress to the stage where it causes problems. These include swelling, recurrent upper respiratory infections, or intestinal disease. People with IgA nephropathy may also have flank pain and a low fever.
Joints. Many children with IgA vasculitis have pain and/or swelling in their joints. This usually happens in their knees and elbows, and sometimes their ankles and wrists.