Examinations
Examinations
Immunoglobulins (antibodies) are proteins that play a key role in the immune system, helping the body defend itself against bacteria, viruses, toxins, and other foreign invaders. There are five types of immunoglobulins: IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, and IgD.
What is IgG?
- IgG is the most abundant immunoglobulin, making up 70-80% of all antibodies in the blood.
- It provides long-term immunity, protecting against re-infection.
- IgG has a half-life of 21-24 days, making it the most stable antibody class.
- It is involved in toxin and virus neutralization, antigen recognition, and phagocytosis activation (the process of engulfing and breaking down foreign bodies).
- IgG is the only antibody that crosses the placenta, providing passive immunity to newborns for the first 4-6 months of life.
- Take the test at least 2 hours after the last meal.
- Avoid smoking for 3 hours before the test.
- Avoid physical and emotional stress for 1 hour before the test.
- Assessment of humoral immunity
- Diagnosis of immunodeficiencies
- Investigation of recurrent bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections in adults and children
- Evaluation of immune system function in autoimmune diseases
- Monitoring the effectiveness of immunoglobulin therapy
Elevated IgG Levels May Indicate:
- Acute and chronic infections (respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary tract infections)
- Recovery phase after a primary infection
- Acute phase of a secondary infection
- Chronic liver diseases:
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Viral hepatitis
- Cirrhosis
- Alcohol-related liver disease
- IgG-type multiple myeloma (plasma cell cancer)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
- Lymphomas
- Infectious mononucleosis
- Neurosyphilis
- HIV/AIDS
Decreased IgG Levels May Indicate:
- Physiological hypogammaglobulinemia in infants (3-5 months old)
- Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)
- Bruton’s agammaglobulinemia (X-linked immunodeficiency)
- Hypogammaglobulinemia (low antibody levels)
- Leukemia