Someone has suggested to me that I get my Epstein Barr Virus status checked, because my CD4+ count is
elevated. Their doctor thought this was enough to try antivirals, which brought the CD4 count back down to
normal. (Or maybe it was CD8?) We both had a lymphocyte subset panel which showed this activated immune
response.
Does anyone else here have experience with this? High EBV levels that responded well to antivirals?
(And on my IGeneX results, I do have the bands possible for cross-reaction with EBV--bands 31 & 34--positive
on my IgM, which shows current antibodies to current infection... Possibly EBV?)
Somehow I've never thought to get my EBV titres checked. The only test I ever had done was for
Mononucleosis, at the very onset of my M.E., and that wasn't checking for the virus itself. (It was also done at
the six week mark, the most plausible time to turn up a false negative because the virus turns itself off!)
Thanks for any insight
little olive
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
Most likely you will test positive for EBV. Everyone does. My doctor won't even do the test because everyone tests positive. I suppose that some may have a higher titer than others.
Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
I can understand your doctor's train of thought, there: 95% of people test positive, don't they? And rarely anyone "normal" gets reactivated mono.
But it's not having it that I worry about--it's having it in high enough numbers/titre that it's considered reactivated and symptom-causing. Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
Yes, it does, thank you Posted by texanmom3 (Member # 28840) on :
I have a now 10yo who was positive withmononucleosis plus liver reactions to EBV last fall. She was tested + for EBV (like it was said, most everyone is +) Only a % of EBV cases go into mononucleosis as it was explained to me and then the liver complications are the next stage and then Hepatitis can follow.
A year later she was retested at LabCorp with a test to determine if the EBV had reactivated because of her symptoms returning. She tested as inactive, but had a kidney infection. I was told that she the EBV could reactivate if her immune system was surpressed, though I didn't receive much detail after that as we were focused on the kidney infection they found instead.
Posted by texanmom3 (Member # 28840) on :
oh and one more thing, I will be asking the LLMD if mono is something to test our 15yo for at our initial b/w work-up for the LD and co-infections. The chronic fatigue is the worst for him (thankfully we homeschool and I can adjust his studies to his 'good' days). We just want to cover all the bases up front since we are only 8 weeks into this from tick removal.
Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
Thanks a bunch for that information, texanmom.
Ticks can transmit EBV and other viruses, did you know?
I didn't know LabCorp did testing for EBV. I have to do a bit of research and then I can figure out which of my doctors to ask for testing. Probably my LLMD, I think.
Extreme fatigue is a big symptom of coinfections.
Posted by CherylSue (Member # 13077) on :
My LLMD has me taking Lauricidin 2-3 scoops a day and guna viral and guna citomax (homeopathic pellets) for my viral issues of EBV and HHV6. My titers have gone down.
Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
Hi Cheryl. Can you tell me what test you had done to check these titres?
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)