So, I looked back through some old posts on cd57, and I agree with most of the posters that where you are in the normal or close to normal range varies by person and doesn't matter a whole lot.
That said, my husband's count is off the chart high. Over 1200 to be exact! I have never heard of a measurement this high, and it is one of the reason, I believe, that our doctor is hesitant to diagnose Lyme with any confidence -- or to treat aggressively.
reasonably positive? I would say that your husbands blot is very positive. Did you also do a confirmation test on band 31++ from Igenex? Just more 'proof' for you.
There have been others here with very high CD-57's (like your husbands). A CD-57 really means very little in the course of treatment. Some of the sickest have high #'s and some who are high functioning and feeling fairly well have low numbers.
Some LLMD's do not put any value on this test at all.
I believe that you may be able to search for links that support the info that I have given...I don't have anything to direct you to off hand.
Bottom line, the WB results should warrant treatment. As far as how aggressively the doctor treats would depend on your husbands symptoms.
In regards to your co-infection issue, do you mean as told by the WB bands? Tincup posted about WB bands and how some doctors believe that certain bands may point to (x) co-infection.
Again, You'll have to do a search or maybe someone else will come along with more energy than I have and direct you to these threads.
Best, Feelfit
Posted by wellwife (Member # 23403) on :
Thanks feelfit.
By the coinfection question, I meant that I heard that straight chronic lyme usually led to low cd57, but coinfections could lead to high?
Posted by wellwife (Member # 23403) on :
OH! BTW, in the WB results, +/- means IND...
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Ok, someone else will have to answer in regards to the Cd-57 and co-infection correlation. I don't know that answer.
IND is viewed as a positive by lyme treating physicians. It is still a fingerprint.
Do you have a Lyme Literate Doctor? Sorry if you have posted this before, I haven't been following the board lately.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
Someone who either went to the Lyme conference in Oklahoma that was over the summer (can't remember the date), or if she didn't go, she read the notes (Dr. Fry was there but not sure who presented this specific info)...
..told me that a high CD57 can indicate VIRAL infection. So if it's like 300 or higher, you may be dealing with viruses.
I'm thinking that doesn't exclude Lyme, but I would look into antiviral treatment too, like olive leaf extract.
For herpes viruses (includes EBV), L-Lysine supplementation can be helpful.
There are also drugs you can take for viruses. Valtrex never helped me, but my CD57 was extremely low, and I did test negative for most viruses.
Like your husband, I actually had quite a few bands show up on Stoney Brook. It was overwhelmingly IgM positive.
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
One more thing, most lyme includes co-infections....I don't think that there are many "straight lyme" cases anymore.
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
I don't know. I still believe the CD-57 does mean something when used as a lyme-specific marker. Its reliability may get skewed when people assume lyme is causing their issues when another pathogen or co-infection is primarily responsible.
If you have a positive lyme WB, suggestive symptoms, and no substantial evidence--clinical/blood--of co-infection and/or viruses, then I suspect the reliability of the CD-57 increases.
I know mine has been consistently low and has not fluctuated at all...between 30 and 40 for the whole ordeal thus far and I have not had convincing tests that point to co-infection as a complicating factor.
I haven't looked at Dr. B's guidelines recently but I believe he still considers the CD-57 an important marker.
How long has your husband been sick?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by feelfit: One more thing, most lyme includes co-infections....I don't think that there are many "straight lyme" cases anymore. [/QB]
Agree! and I agree that the test is "VERY" positive. Band 39 alone would say he has Lyme.
I have no clue about a high CD57.. Definitely never heard of one that high. I wonder if maybe they need to re-do the test?? Can you call the lab and ask questions?
Good to see you again, feelfit! Posted by AliG (Member # 9734) on :
Was it ordered as a "Stricker panel" & done by Labcorp?
I've heard that most labs can mess that test up & that there is one specific location at Labcorp that can really be counted on to run it properly.
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
that is absolutely true AliG! I think the test is done at Jewish Hospital (Stricker Panel CD-57).
Hi TuTu, thanks for the greeting! Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
HE IS POSITIVE! He NEEDS treatment - regardless of what the CD57 says especially since you have a blaringly positive test right there.
Are you seeing a LLMD? Most LLMDs would treat because of the positive alone, not because of that CD57 result.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I agree he needs LLMD for the treatment. Question: If this was a
high viral load would antivirals be brought on
board also. If you find out please let us know.
Very informative.
[ 12-05-2009, 07:18 AM: Message edited by: Pinelady ]
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
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