High Immunoglobulin

[glowing]

Hi,
Can anyone tell me what is considered the best IgG count? I saw my Immuno Consultant today and he was very pleased with how my treatment is going He is going to arrange for me to have subcue treatment and training so I can treat myself at home. He mentioned that my count was 13 and too high so the treatment could be reduced slightly. I've only ever known talk of too low a count and wonder where the too high begins.

Had to see a nurse at the GPs and they have welcomed the UKPIPS posters and are going to put them up in their three surgeries, along with my poem about allowing germs to spread by not using a tissue. Some are to be posted at my grandchildren's school as they are hoping to stop children wiping their noses on their sleeves They'll be lucky!

Glowing

[s162216]

Hi,

Between about 8 and 12 g/L is considered therapeutic and in the 'normal' range. Having too much could potentially lead to side effects if I remember correctly, I imagine that its because the immune system could be over-active to any foreign body (e.g a bacterium/virus) even if its in such tiny quantities that it its not doing any harm or is harmless. Obviously this would give the symptoms of being ill such as fever etc (this is caused by the release of cytokines and prostoglandins in the body as most infections don't grow as well at higher body temperatures). I'll look it up tomorrow and see if I was right.

Sam

[glowing]

Hi Sam,
Thank you for your helpful information. I'm beginning to understand a little of how things work although I can't pretend to understand a lot but your answer makes sense to me.
It's great to have someone to turn to.
Glowing

[gilliem]

Hi Glowing. You may find that people have been told different things for the most desirable IgG levels. Sam's right that 8-12 are the official numbers, but what keeps you, personally, at your fittest may be slightly different. I don't remember any protest being raised the only time I went as high as 13, but I do know that if my levels fall below 9 I catch any and everything that's going!
Best wishes,
Gillie.

[glowing]

Hi Gillie and Sam.
I had my infusion today and asked them about the last blood test result that was sent to the immunologist and they reminded me that blood was taken immediately after my last infusion (because my veins bled quite badly when they tried to canulate ) that is why it was so high. I had another blood test taken today before the infusion and that should give him a true reading as it's been three weeks since the last treatment. I hope he realises because I wouldn't like him to lower treatment unnecessarily. My levels have usually been just over 8 and though I have been unwell I have not been as ill as I used to and respond well to antibiotics so they are satisfied with that.
Thank you for your help.
Glowing