Symptoms Of Selective IgA Deficiency And Related Conditions

Lupus

Selective IgA deficiency patients may also have an autoimmune disorder referred to as systemic lupus erythematosus, which has adverse effects on many organ systems of the body. Numerous types of autoantibodies are created in the body of an individual who has systemic lupus erythematosus against nuclear antigens deposited in multiple organs, including the kidneys, joints, and skin. The main method of treatment used for systemic lupus erythematosus patients is medications that suppress the immune system. Systemic lupus erythematosus typically manifests following an infection that has triggered its characteristic symptoms.

Those affected by selective IgA deficiency are included in the population of individuals who experience frequent infections because they are missing a critical component of their immune system. Because infection is one of the most prevalent causes of systemic lupus erythematosus, individuals who develop infections more frequently than others are at a greater risk of developing this autoimmune disease.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

A selective IgA deficiency patient is more likely to develop or be affected by inflammatory bowel disease than a healthy individual. Inflammatory bowel disease is a condition characterized by chronic digestive tract inflammation, and it is often separated into ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Both forms of inflammatory bowel disease cause a patient to experience abdominal pain and cramping, severe diarrhea, unintended weight loss, and fatigue. Inflammation in the intestinal tract develops when there is a breach in the protective mucus layer that lines the interior of the intestines.

Furthermore, the patient's immune system can attack its own digestive tissues and produce such breach and inflammatory process in the intestinal linings. Individuals affected by selective IgA deficiency have mucous membranes exposed to damage because the deficient immunoglobulin A is a critical component in mucus. The mucus layer is intended to protect the inside of the mouth, stomach, lungs, vagina, and intestines. This protection is diminished in selective IgA deficiency patients, putting them at a higher risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease.