Is this test useful? What were your results? Debating if I should get this done as a Dr. wants me to get it...haven't yet been diagnosed..
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
Mine was less than 2o when I was diagnosed.
Posted by MattH (Member # 30846) on :
Not sure how this is occuring but lately some of the LLMD's have said CD57 is less reliable than they orginally thought, having experienced how unreliable the western blot is.
I was at 59 and two sons at 16 and 14. All three of us were indeterminent with the Western Blot. Probably because the infection was several years old. Also we were bitten in three different states so the borrelia may be different causing different antibody reactions.
Currently my LLMD says it is still a good indicator but your improvement is measured by an improving immune system and waining symptoms. He also said the number can vary based on the lab. A friend of mine was tested by the same lab I used and she was at zero. LLMD said the lab made a mistake. She is waiting for new test results.
So I think it is a good test but as many of us have found it has a miss rate and a good CD 57 (above a certain number) may not mean "no lyme."
Dr S in Seattle says below 150 is an indicator of Lyme while others say below 100 or 60. As we learn more the fixed criteria is not so fixed!
All the Best, MattH
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
LLMDs usually order a CD57 count to get a "baseline" to reference future blood counts against... to help determine the effectiveness of any future treatments.
But some also use the initial count to HELP determine if your problems are due to an active Lyme infection. A lower "suppressed" count, say, less than 60 (according to "Dr. B's") can point towards presence of an active Lyme infection.
Posted by SickLYme (Member # 34104) on :
Wow! This is interesting yet discouraging. How long does it really take for people to get better? I don't want to deal with this for a lifetime....UGH!
Posted by SickLYme (Member # 34104) on :
Wow! This is interesting yet discouraging. How long does it really take for people to get better? I don't want to deal with this for a lifetime....UGH!
Posted by Summer3 (Member # 35286) on :
I had it done. My doctor uses it to measure progress. Mine was under 20.
After many months of treatment, it only rose 2 points. I did not have any clinical improvement though either.
I had a positive Western Blot as well Igenex IgG and Igenex/CDC IgM.
Posted by gmb (Member # 23562) on :
Its not an expensive test. Only $75 or so. I agree with the others, its helps establish a baseline.
Also if Western Blot was negative, it will help confirm a clinical diagnosis for Bb.
I was at 42 after my first year of treatment when I switch LLMDs. My Western Blot had only one positive band - IgM 23, and SPECT showed poor blood flow typical of Lyme.
Sorry to say... we all will be dealing with this at some level for the rest of our lives.
gmb
Posted by LAXlover (Member # 25518) on :
I believe very useful for our family.
When I was finally dx it was 18 and still is after 2 years of abx. Hopefully it will go up sharply very soon!!
I had checked my daughter (age 13) for Lyme several times since she started with "Crohn's/colitis" 5 years ago and they were always negative.
When she was very sick last November, I had her peditrician do the LabCorp 57 and it can back at 20!!! I just knew it must be Lyme. She had been on antibiotics on and off for cellulitis prior. when my LLMD did the usual Western Blot this time it was Positive. So for me, it was a great indicator to dig deeper for her.
I think the on-off use of antibiotics is what finally gave her a pos WB.
I am telling anyone I know that is sick and doesn't really know why, to go ahead and get this simple LabCorp blood test. What is there to lose? It was a lifesaver for us. I don't know what biologic crap the GI docs would have had her on this time, BESIDES PREDNISONE, A BIG NO-NO for Lyme!! She has vastly improved since beginning treatment 5 months ago, yipee!
It will be your baseline for the future!
-LAXlover
Posted by cjbrklich (Member # 24607) on :
My first one was 120 after almost a year of treatment. A year later it was down to 57. Think I'm going in the wrong direction.
Posted by blinkie (Member # 14470) on :
My LLMD thinks it is useful. Mine was 26 when first diagnosed. It is now steadily going up about 30 points every three months. It is now at 109.
This indicates a strengthening immune system. Also, my LLMD admits, other infections may affect the test but we just don't know.
I am 80% better than when I was first diagnosed.
Posted by SickLYme (Member # 34104) on :
Well..I am very scared to get my results...I am also worried for those of you that don't have any increases over years time! That has got be an awful feeling...My doc says she will monitor it for improvement...but if it doesn't go up then what?! I know this might be a lifetime thing, but I really don't want it to be!
Posted by blinkie (Member # 14470) on :
If it doesn't go up, you're not treating the right thing. Honestly, mine started going up after treating parasites and babesia aggresively(I still have them) but that is when CD57 started going up.
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Blinkie is right. Mine jumped after a new doc started treating me for bart (previous doc missed it).
It's just a benchmark, but it is useful for the docs to measure progress. The number doesn't really mean anything though, so don't fear it. Mine was high and I have many symptoms/co infections.
My husband has no symptoms (we just got him checked as a baseline to see if I pass lyme onto him in the future). It turned out he has lyme, yet has no symptoms and a low cd57 (half of what mine was). Go figure.
Posted by LaniMo (Member # 37384) on :
Hi all:
Thought I would piggyback on this thread because I just got my CD57 back, and I don't quite understand the results.
It is broken into two panels (?), but I usually hear it expressed as just one number ... the second one, I think.
These are my results:
% CD8-/CD57+ Lymphs Result: 3.0
Abs.CD8-CD57+ Lymphs Result: 75
Can anyone shed some insight on how I might interpret this?
Thanks!
Posted by SickLYme (Member # 34104) on :
Wow Catgirl! Who would have thought! I know my husband is as healthy as ever! I often wonder if I could pass this to him....maybe he should be tested?
So my CD57 was 50. Dr. said this shows an active lyme infection.
LaniMo...I believe you are looking for the absolute number. My Dr. said that they use the CD57 along with igenex labs to dx. Did you get any igenex labs?
Posted by LaniMo (Member # 37384) on :
SickLYme: I don't know what a CD57 "absolute number" is. I just was confused by the fact that there seem to be two numerical results for my test.
My internist (not an LLMD) just handed me the results I posted above and said it looked "okay."
I'm waiting to hear from IGeneX for Western Blot results, then will take all blood work to an LLMD.
Thanks!
Posted by SickLYme (Member # 34104) on :
Sorry LaniMo
Abs.CD8-CD57+ Lymphs Result: 75
This is your absolute number....so this is the result I believe they look at. I am not a medical professional but I can clarify with my Dr. on Friday when I get my results on paper and we go over it. Ill let you Thanks!
Posted by LaniMo (Member # 37384) on :
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