ironseal78 said:Here are my results. My doctor is out on vacation. 🙂
Ferritin. 9.53 (15-150)
IgG 9.12 (Normal range: 7–16). Within limits.
IgA 2.45 (Range: 0.7–4.0)
IgM. 3.03 (0,4-2,3)
EMA (IIF) negative titer (
The tTG test wasn't performed (
Fibrinogen 2.9 (Ref range: 1.8–4.1). Within normal limits.
Lactate dehydrogenase 155 (normal range
Calcium. Totaling 2.57 (range: 2.14 - 2.53).
Phosphorus. Anorganic 1.42 (range: 0.79 - 1.42). Right at the edge.
Female, 24. For the last decade, I’ve been dealing with recurring keratitis of unknown origin—always sterile cultures. About six or seven years ago, Dr. Sentić sent me on an absolute marathon of testing. Blood work, X-rays, dentist, dermatologist, OBGYN, thyroid, rheumatologist... basically everyone under the sun. She theorized about a laundry list of diseases and predicted some pretty grim outcomes, but nothing ever stuck. Every single test came back perfect, except for being HLA B27 positive and having elevated IgM. Otherwise, I was the picture of health—almost never even catch a cold. Doctors were actually puzzled by my iron surplus, though apparently, that isn't the case anymore. After a brief experimental stint on Decortina, the consensus was that this is likely immunological, though local corticosteroid eye drops yield the same result. At that point, the doctor and I went our separate ways. It only affects my right eye, and it follows a strange pattern: one year is a total disaster, the next is calm. No one can explain the cycle. My only trigger seems to be summer—the heat, the beach, the sun. My eye and the outdoors just don't get along. Allergies have been ruled out, so I just stick with my ophthalmologist.
I was referred for these tests because I dealt with two bouts of "pyoderma" last year—once in the summer and again in the fall. It actually flared up a few years back too, but my doctor just dismissed it as acne. Since I deal with breakouts regularly, I didn't think much of it at the time. However, once it resurfaced last year, things changed. It wasn't just a breakout; it was this intense, inflamed, hot sensation concentrated entirely around my chin area. It lasted about two months from start to finish. The rest of my face felt completely fine—almost like it belonged to a different person. That’s when I decided to seek a second opinion from another dermatologist. 🙂All my swabs came back negative. My OBGYN says everything looks normal there, too. However, the dermatology clinic thinks this is part of a much larger puzzle given my keratitis, so they've sent me down this diagnostic rabbit hole. They’re looking into Celiac or maybe Crohn’s disease and want me to see a gastroenterologist. Celiac is on the table because it runs in my family—apparently, that’s a common diagnosis these days—and Crohn’s is a possibility since I deal with occasional stomach cramps and bouts of diarrhea. I avoid the sun like a vampire, so I'm guessing my Vitamin D levels are low. No issues with my kidneys so far. I don't eat much dairy, but I go heavy on the nuts.
Thanks for the input and the help. My apologies if I went on a bit too long or dumped too much info on you all at once. 🙂
To whom it may concern,
If you're dealing with recurring keratitis—specifically cases where you see corneal ulceration, thinning at the edges of the cornea, or significant inflammation—you need to look deeper. These symptoms often point toward systemic autoimmune issues. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most frequent culprit, followed less often by systemic lupus erythematosus or Sjögren's syndrome. Other possibilities include polyarteritis nodosa or Wegener granulomatosis. Furthermore, modern medical literature increasingly suggests screening for Hepatitis C as a standard precaution. There is also the phenomenon known as a Moore ulcer, where corneal damage occurs without an identifiable cause.
Given you mentioned pyoderma gangrenosum alongside digestive issues, it makes sense to consider inflammatory bowel disease (more commonly ulcerative colitis). Usually, IBD presents with uveitis—inflammation of the middle layer of the eye—rather than direct corneal involvement.
Even though you followed all the tests suggested by Dr. Sentić and they came back clear, keep in mind that systemic autoimmune diseases are notoriously unpredictable. Often, lab results don't turn positive right away, leaving patients in a diagnostic limbo. You shouldn't have abandoned the idea of a follow-up or a consultation with Dr. Sentić just because those specific markers were normal at the time.
Looking at the results you posted, there's a drop in iron stores (low ferritin). This suggests iron loss somewhere in the body. When paired with digestive complaints, a visit to a gastroenterologist—which you've already been referred to—is necessary. Of course, in younger women, low ferritin and related anemia are most frequently just the result of heavy menstrual cycles.
Your IgM levels are also somewhat elevated, which can happen with autoimmune conditions, but it occurs in many other illnesses too. A protein electrophoresis would be a useful next step to determine if we're looking at monoclonal or polyclonal IgM (essentially checking for the presence or absence of an M-spike).
I don't have anything groundbreaking to add here that you haven't heard, other than suggesting you stick to your dermatologist's advice.
Hopefully, once vividsailor7 is feeling better, they might weigh in with some insight from a gastroenterology perspective.
Best regards. 🙂
