CD 57 question

So I haven't been on much because I've been feeling great. Seriously the best I've felt since long, long before becoming sick. I have been doing great for about 3-4 months. No symptoms at all. I see my LLMD next week, and he's probably going to stop the abx. Note - I started Cat's Claw and Japanese Knotweed per his instruction in anticipation of coming off the abx. Also doing ACS Silver.

Well, I got my labs back (he does monthly routine labs for liver function, etc. while on abx). He tested my CD 57 as well, which has never been tested before, and it was 87. So now the wind has been taken out of my sail. I was all set to hear "remission" on y next visit, but everything I've seen says anything less than 200, and certainly anything under 100, means you've still got an active case. I've never had my CD 57 tested before, so there's nothing to compare it to.

So how much stock should I put in this test?

A little history, started symptoms in April 2016. Got crazy sick in Sept 2016. Diagnosed and positive test (DNA Connexions) Feb 2017. Been on abx since. Also crazy, super-clean, AIP diet and a ton of supplements. Been symptom free for 3-4 months. No idea when I was infected.

TxBart said...
When I had my CD 57 tested is was 66 which also had me a little down considering the range that I'm sure we're both looking at is 60-360. Dr. T said it was ok (he actually switched me to a wellness patient this week). I asked my naturopath and she said that yes, I'm ok, but she likes to see it at 85 or better. Either way, I don't think your 87 is a bad thing. Glad you're symptom free!!

On a side note: I'm a little curious why he doesn't include that test right off the bat. He waited til I was almost symptom free to give it to me, too. Makes it hard to gauge progress.

You see Dr. T in Austin too, right? I don't know why he doesn't do the CD 57 right off the bat. Maybe he doesn't put too much stock in it. Glad to hear you are doing so well! I am anticipating being switched to a wellness patient next week too

WalkingbyFaith said...
In Buhner's book he mentions that studies were done that proved cat's claw can raise CD57 levels. If I were you, I would continue with the herbs at least 6 months and have it tested again.

I know there's conflicting data about the significance of the CD57 level, but I'd feel more comfortable if it were higher. If you're symptom free, you might want to try astragalus too. Astragalus is the main herb for Lyme prevention. For those with chronic Lyme, it can make symptoms worse due to boosting the immune response that is already dysfunctional. You just have to try it and see.

My initial CD57 was 39 in Sep 2016. The only treatment I've had for Lyme was 7 days of minocycline back in January and 4-5 drops of cat's claw 3x day for a few months. After Thanksgiving, my CD57 was 48. A tiny bit higher. Don't know if I can rely that yet. Time will tell.

I'd be interested to know if coinfections have any affect on CD57 levels. I've only seen references to Lyme.

Thanks! I will ask about the astragalus when I see him next week. I just started the Cat's Claw and Japanese Knotweed about a month ago, so I don't even think I had started them when the tests were done. I am doing 20 drops of Cat's Claw 3 times a day, and 5 drops of Japanese Knotweed 3 times a day. I didn't Herx at all when I started them, which I take as a good sign. He's really big on the colloidal silver, so I think he's going to say to keep doing that instead of astragalus. I seem to be doing well on it, so I may just stick with it.

There was a cd57 discussion two days ago. Might want to check it out.

mm57553- the other cd57 post were not loaded with info, as there is not much info on this.

CD57 is one way to measure immune cell strength. Its NOT a lyme test. Lyme is known to lower it (control it/alter it), probably in longer term infections - and/or- also possibly where autoimmune is also happening. I have had both, thus my cd57 has been low for a long time, it goes up real slow and was at the lowest point while on ABX.

Maybe in lyme cases where cd57 is still in range, these were not "decade plus" old infections?

Since I've recently had other immune markers "improve" , it would be interesting to see my cd57 again, as this should improve too, but its cost me $135-150 every time.

Many illnesses (not lyme) raise the CD57 count, (your body does to fight the illness).

There are very few cd57 studies that take things beyond lyme into account.

I dont know who does these studies, but a few more questions with a few more facts/patient history is all it would take to take some mystery out of this test!!