Posted 9/29/2016 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,
Just reading this article by Dr. Sam Donta, long time LLMD, now retired, explaining what some of the positive bands mean in lyme testing. A lot of you have probably already read it but I thought it might be interesting?
"The ELISA has been shown to be an unreliable test in many patients with Lyme Disease, both in early infection and later disease (8, 10). Part of the reason for the lack of sensitivity of the ELISA is the use of whole organisms, resulting in a high amount of background absorbance.
After correction for the high background, only a small percentage of
positives can be detected. Because Western blots separate the
proteins of the borrelia, specific reactions can be visualized,
and more accurate interpretations of the results made. Over 75%
of patients with chronic Lyme Disease are negative by ELISA,
while positive by Western blot (8, 10). Patients with
oligoarticular arthritis may be more likely to have robust IgG
responses and positive ELISA tests and IgG Western Blots (13).
By Western blot analyses, the first immunologic reactions in
Lyme Disease are to the 41kd flagellar protein, and the 23kd
OspC protein. Typically, at the time of the ECM rash, there will
be an IgM reaction against the 23kd and 41kd proteins, and no IgG
reactions. Within the next few weeks, the IgM reactions persist,
sometimes accompanied by less specific reactions against 60kd and
66kd proteins, and IgG reactions are now visible against the 23kd
and 41kd proteins. Thus, in the presence of an appropriate
clinical picture, the immunoreactivity against the 23kd and 41kd
proteins appear to be diagnostic of Lyme Disease.
Whereas the 41kd protein is not unique to B. burgdorferi, the 23kd
protein appears to be unique. Also apparently unique proteins of
B.burgdorferi are the 31kd (Osp A) and 34kd (Osp B) outer membrane proteins, and the 35kd, 37kd, 39kd, and 83/93kd proteins. Reactions
to the 31kd proteins are not usually seen until after a year or more following the onset of disease. Not all patients with symptoms for
more than one year, however, display reactions to the outer membrane
proteins.
Most symptomatic patients have specific reactions on IgM
Western blots (8,10). With resolution of the symptoms, the IgM
reactions disappear or attenuate. IgG reactivity may continue
to be present with resolution of symptoms, but it typically also
disappears or attenuates with successful therapy. There are some
patients (20%) who have symptoms, but whose Western blots are
negative (8,10). If the borrelial organisms remain intracellular,
with no extracellular reemergence once established, this could
explain the absence of additional or persistent immune responses."
Here is the link for the whole document, which although it is old, may still be interesting for some:
http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=8441
By the way, my son just took his first test (home schooling) for math today --- and got ---98%!!
With his migraines and brain fog he hasn't been able to concentrate let alone take a test since last October!! In fact he had a migraine two days ago -the first one again since the spring?! Maybe the meds are working on his brain now? Lyme always keeps you guessing.
I would have been just as happy with 51%, but this was a real boost for my son!
So hang in there all the foggy brains!
Wishing you all healthy happier days!