Topic: Does anyone know what these test results means?
ConnieMc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 191
posted
I had a "Lymphocyte Subset Panel 4" at Quest. The only out of range result I had on the panel was the following:
Absolute CD4+ cells Reference range 490-1740 per cumm
Mine was 447
I fear I am in a bit of a relapse of Lyme/Babs. Another telling result on the tests I had was my sodium and chloride was low. I had a problem with this all throughout my battle with Lyme/Babs, but then when I seemed to go into a long period of remission it was a non-issue and went back to normal. So I will have to start supplementing with sea salt again.
Also - Epstein Barr Virus was positive. I had 3 different tests for this (all reference ranges say over 1.10 is positive - antibody detected)-
Epstein-Barr Virus AB Panel IGM 1.41
Epstein-Barr Virus VCA IGG AM 3.08
EBV Nuclear Antigen (EBNA) AB (IGG) 2.04
Frankly I do not know if I have been tested for this before or not. I haven't spoken with the doc yet.
timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
I am more familiar with EBV test results from Focus Diagnostics labs in CA.
Viral infections have the same symptoms as lyme infections. You can't tell the difference.
Please pull up the info in Medical Questions here at Lymenet on how to test for viruses, using my member number and "viral testing." That should give you some info. It may be worth your while to get tested for EBV and HHV-6 at Focus labs.
Also do some reading at www.hhv-6foundation.org. There is a patient's forum there too, I'm Timaca there too.
I don't know much about CD4 tests, except I think they are used in AIDS testing...and they drop quite low if you have AIDS. I did have a lymphocycte subset panel run too...which was basically normal.
Best, Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Hey hey CM.
The CD 4 is also used in Lyme to see how well you are bouncing off infections, basically. There is a technical explanation... but that is all coming out of my brain at the moment.
They like to watch it to see if treatment improves you in this area.
As for the EBV... many with Lyme have had this test and it usually shows positive. Also a number of MS folks have a positive reading too... a study done on it a while back.
I have 2 theories... and don't think... haven't see at least.. any positive, for-sure, stuff on it.
1. Ticks are carrying the virus... the reason so many of us have it.
2. We got it at some point from normal routes... and when we go down with Lyme, et al... it appears and helps kick our butts.
There should be other posts on it here... EBV.. with good discussions.
But both tests are commonly used in aiding diagnostic procedures for Lyme. And you show high EBV- normal for Lyme patients- and low CD4.. normal for Lyme patients.
Sooooooooooo.. I THINK it means you might be "normal".
Write that down cause you won't hear me say it again! HA!
ConnieMc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 191
posted
Normal, huh? Never thought I would hear that word again. Thanks Tincup and timaca. Very helpful info. And thanks timaca for the suggestions on links.
Wonder if there is a way to actually improve your CD4+ cells? Will have to look into this. Maybe I am wrong, but I would think that if you improve immune function, then things like EBV would not be as likely to "bother" you. Apparently, most everyone has the virus - it is the job of the immune system to keep it at bay.
One thing that comes to mind - does anyone ever watch Dr. G, the medical examiner? She had a case one night where a patient died from a herpes infection. She had no explanation at all as to why this woman progressed quickly to death after she was exposed by a guy who had herpes who bit her gently on the lip. But that is how it happened. She developed a systemic herpes infection and became very ill very quickly.
Posts: 2276 | From NC | Registered: Oct 2000
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