Protects against infections of the mucous membranes lining the mouth, airways, and diggestive tract. Found in mucosal areas, such as the gut, respiratory tract and urogenital tract, and prevents colonization by pathogens. Also found in saliva, tears, and breast milk.
Some people are born with low or absent levels of IgA. Low levels 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). This increases the chances of developing an autoimmune disease. Patients with low IgA are at some increased risk of developing severe reactions after receiving blood products.
May mean that IgA monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) or IgA multiple myeloma is present. Levels of IgA are also 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.
$79 per year
$6.60 per month billed annually
Use promocode
$15 per month
$79 per year
$250 single payment
Save time on interpreting lab results with the largest database of biomarkers online. In-depth research on any test at your fingertips, all stored and tracked in one place.
Learn More
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
Acetylcholine Receptor (AChR) Antibody, Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), Anti-Smith Antibody, Antinuclear Antibodies Direct (ANA Direct), C3a desArg Fragment, CCP Antibodies IgG/IgA, Complement C3, Complement C4, Serum, Complement C4a, Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody, Dilute Russell's viper venom time (dRVVT), ds-DNA Antibody, IgG, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Histamine, Plasma, Immature Grans (Abs), Immature Granulocytes (%), Immunoglobulin A, Qn, Serum, Immunoglobulin D, Quant, Serum, Immunoglobulin E, Total, Immunoglobulin G, Qn, Serum, Immunoglobulin M, Qn, Serum, Interleukin-2, Serum, Interleukin-6, Jo 1 Antibodies, IgG, Serum, Liver-Kidney Microsomal Antibodies, Lupus Anticoagulant, Prothrombin Time (PT), Prothrombin Time (PT) INR, RA Latex Turbid, Rheumatoid factor, TGF-b1, Thrombin time, Transforming Growth Factor beta, Plasma, Tryptase, Vegf, Serum
