Total Immunoglobulins Include: Total IgE, IgM, IgG
GAM assesses overall production of immunoglobulins in the body—an important measurement of general immunity. Total immunoglobulins testing can be a strong indicator of a disease or condition. I advise everyone who wants to do a Cyrex array to test total immunoglobulins first to ensure valid results.
Deficient antibody production may be either inherited or acquired:
- Inherited immunodeficiency is associated with rare genetic conditions and serious immune disorders. However, some patients with primary IgA deficiency (IgAD) are asymptomatic and are only identified after a laboratory result anomaly.
- Acquired immunodeficiency can occur as a result of an illness, especially illnesses which cause protein loss in the body such as kidney disease or gastrointestinal disorders where protein absorption is affected. Recurrent infections, chronic diarrhoea and the use of certain medications (e.g. corticosteroids or immunosuppressants) can also contribute to deficient antibody production.
Excessive antibody production may be either polyclonal (where there is an increase in any or all classes of immunoglobulins) or monoclonal (where there is an increase in one class with or without a decrease in other classes).
- Polyclonal increase may occur as a result of infections, autoimmune disorders, cirrhosis of the liver, chronic inflammation, and hyperimmunisation response.
- Monoclonal increase is associated with blood cell tumours such as multiple myeloma (affecting plasma cells) and lymphoma (affecting white blood cells)