What does IgA stand for?
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What does an elevated IgA indicate?
High IgA can indicate chronic inflammation or an infection. Most labs consider values above 400 mg/dL in adults high. The upper limit varies by age and is lower in children and adolescents.
What is the function of IgA?
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the most abundant type of antibody in the body, comprising most of the immunoglobulin in secretions and a significant amount of circulating immunoglobulin. In secretions, it serves to protect the mucosal tissues from microbial invasion and maintain immune homeostasis with the microbiota.
What does abnormal IgA mean?
If your immunoglobulin levels are too high, it may be a sign of an autoimmune disease, a chronic illness, an infection, or a type of cancer. Symptoms of these conditions vary greatly.
What is a IgA blood test?
An IgA test measures the blood level of immunoglobulin A, one of the most common types of antibodies in the body. Antibodies (also called immunoglobulins) are proteins the immune system makes to recognize and get rid of germs.
What causes immunoglobulin A to be high?
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.
Why is IgA important?
IgA is the most abundant antibody isotype found in the body 1 and plays an important role in the immune responses at mucosal surfaces such as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the respiratory tract, and the vaginal tract 2.
Where is IgA from?
In most higher vertebrates, the majority of IgA is synthesized by gastrointestinal lymphoid tissue, with smaller amounts synthesized at other mucosal sites such as the respiratory tract, salivary glands and reproductive tract. During lactation, mammary tissue contains substantial numbers of IgA-producing cells.
Is low IgA serious?
Although Selective IgA Deficiency is usually one of the milder forms of immunodeficiency, it may result in severe disease in some people.