Hi. I live in Sweden. How common is the CD57 test in the US? We don't have it in Sweden, but I understand some ILADS Dr:s use it. As a diagnostic tool, or as a way to predict if it's wise to stop treatment, that is to determine if the patient has been cured? From what I've read ILADS say that there is no test that wan tell us if a patient is cured.
Greetings from Sweden Inger
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
Very common though some debate about how useful it may be. I find it helpful personally and do it every 6 months. I had heard of a lab starting to do it in Poland but not sure how that is going or how well it correlates.
Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :
Hi, My LLMDs use it to confirm a Lyme diagnosis but beyond that don't use it. They treat until symptoms resolve.
Posted by daise (Member # 13622) on :
Hi Inger,
I tested negative three times by western blot, yet I had a positive CD57 count of 44.
It's recommended that this be done at LabCorp lab in Dallas, Texas--but that's in the US. I don't know about the lab in Poland.
For information, see www.ilads.org, go to the left menu and click "Treatment Guidelines" and that will take you to Dr. Burrascano's 33 pages of tips for 2005.
I recall page 8 has information on the CD57.
Some people on this site have been in treatment, then had the CD57 test to check their progress, yet the results were confusing.
For me, far into treatment, the results showed good progress. We're all different.
Yes, you're right, no test will tell us if we're cured. Not yet, anyway!
The LLMD's treat until symptoms resolve. Perhaps a very low dose antibiotic will be needed after that to keep any Lyme pathogens from proliferating.
The best to you. Come back!
daise Posted by Rianna (Member # 11038) on :
I was given this information, it mayhelp you understand results etc better:-
HNK-1 Panel (CD-57)- The CD-57 count can be used to help determine how active the Lyme infection is, how well the treatment is working, and whether, after treatment ends, a relapse is likely to occur.
Patients who do not have Lyme have counts above >180.
It can be important to use this diagnostic test as a marker to determine how well a treatment is working or if a relapse has occurred.
The Lyme spirochete is able to impact a specific subset (the CD-57 subset) of the natural killer cells. When Lyme is active, the CD-57 count is suppressed. At this point, we believe that only Borrelia can affect the CD-57 count in this way, a sick patient with a high CD-57 is probably ill with something other than Lyme, such as a co-infection.
Test interpretation:
Above >180 is normal Above >60 Lyme activity indicates improvement and treatment response 0-60 Chronic Lyme disease or relapse Below <20 Severe illness
Low CD57 occurs in chronic Lyme or when the disease has been active for over 1 year. The count reflects the degree of infection or treatment response. It is not a diagnostic test but is used as marker for Lyme during treatment.
Hope this helps, Rianna
Posted by inglip (Member # 14898) on :
Thanks guys!
I was somewhat hesitant about this test. I know a clinic in Europe that seem to use it every two months or so...that sounds to me like they just want to make money. First the patient had very low CD57 count, like between 20-35, three times, and then suddenly 218 (after two months), but the patient is still obviuosly very ill and needs to continue I.V. treament. That makes me suspicious, sndf it makes me question the value of the test! Thanks again for your answers!
Posted by daise (Member # 13622) on :
Inger,
That's a big jump in only two months. Perhaps the lab isn't doing a good job.
daise Posted by inglip (Member # 14898) on :
Yeah, that what I'm thinking too. It definitely doesn't sound right. Inger
Posted by notkrazybrian (Member # 10621) on :
I just seen my LLMD yesterday and I consider him to be very respectable, told me, that they are having problems with the cd57 tests, although he didnt go into detail, he said this because I forgot what my last CD57 report was so i asked. It wouldnt make since for him to all the sudden not like it because he use to. Im wondering if the lab hes using is giving him false or wrong readings. brian
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I don't think it's reliable at all from what I've read here.
For a real eye opener, do a search on this site. Just type in "CD57." [go to top of this page and click on "search."]
My LLMD doesn't use it at all unless someone asks for it.
Posted by daise (Member # 13622) on :
The CD57 is used as a screener.
I was diagnosed from a positive CD57, when three western blots were negative for Lyme.
That's how I got meds paid for.
However, the recommendation is that it only be done at LabCorp Lab in Dallas TX.
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