This is topic Does + IgM mean recent infection or not? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by starfish1995 (Member # 11809) on :
 
I apologize if this has been covered already, but I am brand new to the lyme thing and have a question about my 8 year old son's results (below). Do his resulsts mean recent infection? His other pediatrician yesterday called and insited that his + IgM meant he has a recent infection. I thought it could mean a persistent infection, but she said, no, a persistent infection would produce a +IgG which he does not have. Help please!

IGenex Labs:

Lyme Igg Western Blot

Igenex IGG Result - Negative

CDC/NYS Result - Negative

(The only band that was positive was a ++ in band 41)


Lyme IgM Western Blot

Igenex IGM result: Positive
CDC/NYS result: Negative

18 kDa +

22 kDa -

**23-25kda IND

28 kDa -

30 kDa ++

**31 kDa ++++

** 34 kDa IND

**39 kDa IND

**41 kDa IND

45 kDa -

58 kDa -

66 kDa +

73 kDa -

**83-93 KDa +
 
Posted by ldfighter (Member # 9405) on :
 
It's a common misconception that +IgM only represents recent infection. It can also represent persistent infection according to Igenex (they provide references to back up this statement at http://www.igenex.com/lymeset2.htm )

What's more, early infection usually does not produce a response to band #31, which is specific for Lyme and usually indicates a later infection.
 
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
 
Agree.
 
Posted by trueblue (Member # 7348) on :
 
My WBs were always weakly + IgG results, I had late infection when diagnosed.


Anyway, the reason I am posting is my WBs converted last year (some 11 years after diagnosis) to primarily IgM. I was not reinfected.


Starfish, will they treat him either way?
 
Posted by starfish1995 (Member # 11809) on :
 
Thank you all for your prompt and very helpful replies.


I will forward this to the pediatrician. She was all ready to prescrib a month of doxycylcine becasue she was certain Samuel had been recently bit by a tick given his IgM results.


But after a whole lot of reading, I decided to do the Buhner protocol with my son. He has autism. I started the protocol last wednesday and am slowly ramping up each herb, one at a time. In fact I am treating myself and BOTH my boys.


Just started with Cat's Claw on Weds, and will add the other herbs one at a time as they arrive.

I hope this is the ticket especially for my 8 yo son with autism.

Thanks again,

Beth
 
Posted by davidx (Member # 8326) on :
 
I tested IGM positive in October 2005 but IgG negative. I recently had another lyme test done by yet another lab (April 2007) and tested IGM positive but IgG negative.

The LLMD I am seeing said that the IgM can represent an active infection which in my case may be the case since I don't think 1.5 years is very recent!

-David
 


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