Hello, I have a question for you. Spencer's (age 3) had a blood test for
Celiac where the panel for IgG was elevated (over 140), all others normal.
Then, IgA was tested by a follow up blood test, and it was normal (<4). On
his CBC, thyroid (T-3) is elevated, lymphocytes elevated, neutrophils low.
If you have any ideas, we would really appreciate it. And, is there a type
of specialist we should be searching for that could put it all together for
us? So far we have seen the GI and Allergist, as well as all the
developmental pediatricians/therapists for PDD. An immunologist? Thanks!
Jack & Carolyn Saltiel
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> From: Patrick Cahill <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: IgA Deficiency in 3 yr old-Anyone Else?
> Date: Tuesday, March 11, 1997 1:49 PM
>
> >Dear Coralie,
> >
> >What part does IgG play.
> > Can food intolerances cause an IgG
> >deficiency? If gluten is a problem, how does it show in your blood, IE
which
> >part? What is the IgG test and how will it monitor your grand daughters
> >diet? If I track all my problem foods and eliminate them will my IgG be
normal?
> >
> /Dear Gina:
>
> My small amount of knowledge about all of this concerns only our
experience
> with celiac disease.
>
> Antibodies in the blood are made of gammaglobulin protein and are called
> immunoglobulins. There are various classes of these. IgG makes up the
> majority, IgA is a much smaller amount and is present mainly in
secretions
> of the GI tract. IgE is involved in allergic responses and is measured
to
> detect allergic disease. (Perhaps your allergist could explain the
> relationship between your diagnosed IgG deficiency and food allergies.)
> These immunoglobulins can be separated out and measured to detect and
> monitor responses.
>
> Celiac disease is not considered an allergic reaction.
> The celiac panel, at least in the USA, measures four types of antibodies.
> Reticulin antibodies (IgA)
> Endomysial antibodies (IgA)
> Gliadin antibodies (IgA)
> Gliadin Antibodies (IgG)
> These different antibodies have varying sensitivities and specificities,
> helpful in screening for celiac disease. At this time, positive (or
> negative) tests are not diagnostic in and of themselves, but assist in
> determining who should be biopsied.
> In an individual who is highly symptomatic and has a celiac panel with
only
> IgG response, it is wise to test the IgA level. If the IgA is normal
this
> person would not be highly suspect to have celiac. If the IgA is
deficient,
> most MDs would probably recommend biopsy if some other diagnosis did not
> seem plausable.
> For an individual who is IgA deficient(the IgA level is measured and
> compared to a standard in the general population), the three tests that
> measure IgA will not be elevated and would not be repeated. Therefore
once
> someone is shown to be IgA deficient, these would not be useful in
> monitoring the success of the gluten free diet. The IgG measurement
would
> be expected to be useful since it is the only response among these four
> tests that such a person would have. After diagnosis, if all gluten is
> successfully removed from the diet, the IgG should return to a normal
level,
> if it is still elevated after 6 mos. or so, then it is assumed that the
> individual is still consuming some gluten which is responsible for the
(IgG)
> antibody response.
>
> I don't know if this helps at all, this is how it has been explained to
> me--but is a small part of the entire picture.
> Coralie
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