Posted by: twinturbo
« on: January 13, 2014, 11:00:20 AM »Elizabeth you posted in another thread that your son has food intolerances. While this may or may not be an accurate diagnosis these tests do not reflect an intolerance. You have the right to know that IgG is used to measure tolerance, not intolerance. You also have the right to know that IgA deficiency is real and can be related to other autoimmune issues.
http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcespre.php?id=72
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/selective-iga-deficiency/basics/definition/con-20037196
The point is using those tests under the assumption they are (1) allergy tests (2) related to foods *could* be quite dangerous because they do not measure allergy or intolerance to foods, possibly leaving undiagnosed an underlying issue known to medicine requiring management by current best practices.
This is all assuming of course your child is not actually experiencing IgE-related symptoms and reactions--which we can't even begin to know without knowing the symptoms.
Bottom line is your child deserves the correct diagnosis for best outcome and management.
http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcespre.php?id=72
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I see patients every week who have had IgG testing for food allergy, in which their blood was tested for IgG antibodies instead of IgE antibodies (the antibodies typically associated with allergies). These patients often come in on extremely restricted diets because they had tested positive to so many things. This is no surprise though because a normal immune system is supposed to make IgG antibodies to foreign proteins, and a positive IgG test to a food is therefore a sign of a normal immune system rather than a sign of food allergy.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/selective-iga-deficiency/basics/definition/con-20037196
Quote
Selective IgA deficiency is an immune system condition in which you lack or don't have enough immunoglobulin A (IgA), a protein that fights infection (antibody). Most people with selective IgA deficiency don't have recurrent infections. However, some people who have IgA deficiency experience recurrent respiratory tract infections, asthma, sinus infections, allergies and diarrhea.
Selective IgA deficiency may also be found with autoimmune disease, in which your immune system attacks itself. Common autoimmune conditions found with IgA deficiency include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and celiac disease.
The point is using those tests under the assumption they are (1) allergy tests (2) related to foods *could* be quite dangerous because they do not measure allergy or intolerance to foods, possibly leaving undiagnosed an underlying issue known to medicine requiring management by current best practices.
This is all assuming of course your child is not actually experiencing IgE-related symptoms and reactions--which we can't even begin to know without knowing the symptoms.
Bottom line is your child deserves the correct diagnosis for best outcome and management.