Serum Immunoglobulin A and airway inflammation

[conancillo]

Hello:

Does a slight elevation in serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) indicates some sort of airway inflammation?

Results:

Total IgA = 660 mg/dl  ranges 63-484

Thanks

[mayvis9]

My Pulmonologist recently let me know that my Ige level is 1300, and that "something very bad is going on" - I am researching more and more and getting very alarmed. I have had 2 life theatening episodes w/ my asthma (intubated once), and am getting NO answers as to what is causing the exacerbations.  I have had asthma all of my life and had it under control w/ ADVAIR until approx 4mos ago ( ADVAIR suddenly was no longer effective ) , I was recently admitted to Resp. ICU x8days, and have been figthing tooth and nail ever since to get someone to take my situation seriously.  I am told if I feel worse to go to the E.R., I am currently on 60mg Prednisone, Formadil 2puffs/day, Flovent 220mcg 1puff/2bid, and DuoNeb prn, albuterol.  I stay indoors most of the time with a/c, air purifier, dehumidifier and my inhaler close by.  

I often "feel worse," call my GP and Pulmonologist, sched a visit, then when they listen to my lungs, which usually sound clear, am told the same thing - "If you feel worse, go to the E.R." - I have atypical asthma symptons i.e. I may wheeze, after a few nebulizer treatments, my 02sat is deceptively normal (it was 93% when I had respiratory failure), to my detriment I don't appear to be in distress enough to warrant serious or even dianostic attention.  I am very worried, and very angry because I don't want to become an asthma related death because I don't look the part.  

The question here: What other avenues should I pursue to get a clear picture of what is causing my asthma/the severity of it?

Could I be misdiagnosed w/ asthma or have an underlying more serious condition?

[National Jewish]

A slight elevation of immunoglobulin A (IgA) means very little at all.  The only time we are worried about IgA are (1) when it is very, very high, being hundreds of times the normal and (2) when it is absent, causing a person to have lots of infections.  Otherwise, it will fluctuate a little related to lots of things.