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CD57 and newest Western Blot results

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Posted 5/5/2017 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Both tests were through Labcorp.

Her CD57 shows two below normal results:

%CD8-/CD57+ Lymphs result is .6% (range is 2.0 - 17.0)

Abs. CD8-CD57+Lymphs result is 11 /ul (range is 60-360)

Western Blot shows Band 41 IgG present. This band wasn’t there in October when she had her first Western Blot. It also shows Band 39 IgM. This band was there in October.

Prior to the tests result, our LLMD said he wasn't sure it was Lyme. Her score on the Horowitz questionaire was about 65. 18+ years of symptoms and currently extreme short term memory loss and cognitive issues. We used the Chronic Tonic last fall and it caused a massive herx and created new symptoms.

I just wonder what you guys think of the CD57 in the context of her symptoms. I am unsure after researching it whether it is useful or not? Would other co-infections account for this number?

Also, I don't understand why band 41 has made an appearance when it wasn't there last fall?

Thanks for all the help everyone has given me especially Traveler.

Post Edited (cakegirl) : 5/5/2017 11:16:41 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/5/2017 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Cakegirl, I'm just glad we were here to help you!!!!

I think you know my thoughts on the bands, but if you don't ans wish to hear them, just let me know. Also, the test will pick up different bands as the immune system tries to do combat with the bacteria.

As for the CD57, it's a highly debatable test as to what it may point to. We know that it means the immune system is impacted, but we don't understand the how's and why's yet. Some that are incredibly ill with these infections can have a pretty high CD57 result, while some with very low test results may have only minor issues (relatively speaking) with these infections.

While some do find it helpful to track the results, as it does increase with healing for some, not all have seen the numbers increase, even though they are healing.

So, while it helps to point to a chronic infection, what types, why it's high in some and low in others with chronic infections and so on, have yet to be figured out.
Posted 5/5/2017 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
That's a low cd57 for sure. Something is causing natural killer cells to be low. I believe coinfections can actually raise the cd57, but again there is conflicting answers.

As for band 41, as you probably already know, it's the flagella on bacteria and is common to other bacteria. I'd say it's the most common band. It's possible the lab missed it the first time (labcorp is infamous for being inconsistent). My daughter also had a western blot through them and the first time they showed band 41 & 58 and for some reason they re-ran it again (with the same blood) and only got 41 on the second time. It makes me not trust them at all.
Posted 5/5/2017 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi cakegirl -

First, I'm sorry your daughter(?) is struggling like this. But even without the CD57 and WB - a good LLMD would probably diagnose her w/ TBD (tickborne diseases), particularly given her sx and reaction to the tonic.

But a reaction to band 39 means antibodies have reacted to a major protein of Bb flagellin, which means this band is specific for Bb. If her immune system was functioning better, she'd probably have more immune response react to more bands.

Her CD57 is also low, indicating poor immune function. Although some MDs are not using the CD57 as much as they used to. Yes, coinfections can also create a low CD57. Mine was very very low when I started treatment and we've tested it every year since and it hasn't gone up much, yet I've improved drastically. Not really sure what that means. But if the insurance companies needs the support of a low CD57 test to cover TBD treatment, it's helpful.

I would not try to read too much logic into the WB - they are only a barometer for immune function, which is notoriously dysfunctional for people who are ill.

-p
Posted 5/5/2017 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
I've been tracking my cd57 with other immune and infection type markers. It went on average from mid 30's to mid 20's and now mid 40's even though I feel a lot better. Other tests I did improved tremendously while CD57 is just so so.

They just dont know enough about everything (other things too like autoimmune ect )that can cause this. Maybe some day they will.
Posted 5/5/2017 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Trav, I know your thought on the bands and I bookmarked them to refer back to. It's just hard spending all this time and money on practitioners who don't think she has Lyme.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts.
Posted 5/5/2017 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
I do know what you mean, and I'm so very sorry!!! But, for the sake of your Mom's health and well being, it's time to change, unfortunately. Her test results are not a 'slam dunk', but her symptoms are. And, as we have been talking about, there are other issues at play as well.

It seems like several of our members are discovering that their doctors are not what they 'need' to be in order to effectively help people through the healing of these infections lately. It's a shame when we invest time and money into our health to find out that it wasn't what we needed. My sympathies. I went through this for decades trying to find out what was going on with me.
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