I have a question about CD57. My first test was the CD-/CD57+. My % CD8-/CD57+ Lymphs were 2.0, and my Abs. CD8-CD57+ Lymphs were 34.
My doctor ran this test as a screen for Lyme. I am surprised she ran it, as I am a fairly healthy person, except psychologically. I have anxiety, but that is life-long. I have had mild to moderate depression for 5 or 6 years, and Candida for about 12 years. I have RSI, as well as neck pain, both of which are much better than when they started 3 years ago (treated with massage, chiropractic, etc.).
I did have a couple of +s on the Western Blot (31 and 41), as well as quite a few Indeterminate bands (4 with **).
Based on my reading, it looks like I have Lyme. But based on my reading, I should be a lot sicker, or at least have a history of being sicker, or of having cyclical illness, or some such.
I am not complaining, of course! I am just feeling quite confused. My doctor is not yet an LLMD, but she has read a lot about Lyme.
Anyone else who is relatively healthy have Lyme, and/or a low CD57? Are you/did you treat without ABs?? Or is there another explanation for a low CD57?
Posted by bigstan (Member # 11699) on :
I have low CD-57. I have chronic LD. From what I have read HIV is the only other thing to lower CD-57 results.
(Excerpt)
No one knows for sure why CD57+ NK cells are low in Lyme disease patients, but it is important to note that many disease states that are often confused with chronic Lyme (MS, systemic lupus, rheumatoid arthritis) are not associated with low CD57+ NK counts.
The good news is that for most Lyme patients the CD57+ NK level increases as treatment progresses and health is regained.
Who knows?
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
So we're told, at this time, that Lyme disease is the only illness that lowers CD57.
Posted by Toppers (Member # 20083) on :
So Bartonella alone can't lower this?
Posted by bigstan (Member # 11699) on :
Explains a little.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
I think some docs are coming to the conclusion that it is not just lyme, but possibly other tickborne coinfections can also lower the CD 57.
Bea Seibert
Posted by Sojourner (Member # 9424) on :
I disagree that other disease states do not have low Cd57 counts. There are no studies of Cd57 counts in MS or other neuro diseases similar to lyme. Furthermore, other diseases (MS) have been linked to low NK cell counts. The science just hasn't been done, yet or ever.
Posted by cleo (Member # 6646) on :
According to Dr. H at the last lyme conference Chlamydia can lower it too.
I have Bartonella with a cd 57 of 13. My Dr. said he's seen this with Bartonella patients and that it's not just lyme that causes this
Posted by LAXlover (Member # 25518) on :
Thanks for those links cleo, I really appreciated reading that information as my daughter with crohns colitis (dx 4 yrs ago) was tested with the CD57 panel just 2 weeks ago.
So sad to find out the day before Thanksgiving that her score is 20. Mine is 18.
According to what I read the things that can lower the CD-57 are:
1. Lyme Borrelia 2. Tuberculosis (per Dr. R. S.) 3. Chlamydia pneumoniae (per Dr. R. S.) 4. maybe XMVR (virus)(per Dr. B) 5. blood draw in the middle of a herx ie., inflammation may make it drop (per Dr. R. S.) 6. HIV (? not positive on this)
I am still researching this for my 13 year old. I am so sad. She has been sickly now on+off for 1 1/2 years, even 3-4 bouts of cellulitis.
Now I'm going to have my 10 year old checked and my husband for the CD57 panel.
So sad, -LAXlover
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :