Immunoglobulins

Gamma Globulin Tests

Results

An immunoglobulins test is done to measure the level of immunoglobulins, also known as antibodies, in your blood.

Normal

Normal values may vary from lab to lab. The results listed below are normal values for adults. Children have different values than adults. Results are ready in 1 to 2 days.

Immunoglobulins

	milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL)	grams per litre (g/L)
IgA	85–385	0.85–3.85
IgG	565–1765	5.65–17.65
IgM	55–375	0.55–3.75
IgD	Less than 8	5–30 micrograms per litre (µg/L)
IgE		10-1421 µg/L

High values

• IgA. High levels of IgA may mean monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) or multiple myeloma is present. Levels of IgA also get 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.
• IgG. High levels of IgG may mean a long-term (chronic) infection, such as AIDS, is present. Levels of IgG also get higher in IgG multiple myeloma, long-term hepatitis, and multiple sclerosis (MS). In multiple myeloma, tumour cells make only one type of IgG antibody (monoclonal); the other conditions cause an increase in many types of IgG antibodies (polyclonal).
• IgM. High levels of IgM can mean macroglobulinemia, early viral hepatitis, mononucleosis, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney damage (nephrotic syndrome), or a parasite infection is present. Because IgM antibodies are the type that form when an infection occurs for the first time, high levels of IgM can mean a new infection is present. High levels of IgM in a newborn mean that the baby has an infection that started in the uterus before delivery.
• IgD. How IgD works in the immune system is not clear. A high level may mean IgD multiple myeloma. IgD multiple myeloma is much less common than IgA or IgG multiple myeloma.
• IgE. A high level of IgE can mean a parasite infection is present. Also, high levels of IgE are found in people who have allergic reactions, asthma, atopic dermatitis, some types of cancer, and certain autoimmune diseases. In rare cases, a high level of IgE may mean IgE multiple myeloma.

Low values

• IgA. Low levels of IgA occur in some types of leukemia, kidney damage (nephrotic syndrome), a problem with the intestines (enteropathy), and a rare inherited disease that affects muscle coordination (ataxia-telangiectasia). Some people are born with low or absent levels of IgA antibodies. This increases their chances of developing an autoimmune disease.
• IgG. Low levels of IgG occur in macroglobulinemia. In this disease, the high levels of IgM antibodies stop the growth of cells that make IgG. Other conditions that can cause low levels of IgG include some types of leukemia and a type of kidney damage (nephrotic syndrome). In rare cases, some people are born with a lack of IgG antibodies. These people are more likely to develop infections.
• IgM. Low levels of IgM occur in multiple myeloma, some types of leukemia, and in some inherited types of immune diseases.
• IgE. Low levels of IgE can occur in a rare inherited disease that affects muscle coordination (ataxia-telangiectasia).

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Author:	Douglas Dana Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: November 30, 2006
Medical Review:	Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Brian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - Hematology
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