posted
I had the positive ELISA come back last week. I was told today, the IgM was positive, IgG was negative. (It was processed through a lab my insurance tells me to go to, so I'm assuming it was through their lab using CDC standards. I don't know the specific bands, etc, as the doctor was not in his office.) So, I definitely have Lyme Disease. The doctor suggested this usually means a recent active exposure, yet my nuero symptoms (the doctor labelled peripheral neuropathy) have been occurring for over 1 year. This had the doctor confused. (This is the Neuro that told me the results, haven't gotten in to see the doctor who will be treating me. He won't see me until all the results are in) Has anyone heard of this?
Posts: 60 | From NJ | Registered: Jun 2010
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Well, if a doctor is confused, you surely need to find one who is not.
First, while it's a rough diagnosis, you are lucky to actually have achieved the elusive CDC positive. Still, treatment offered may not be adequate if by a doctor who follows the IDSA guidelines.
As most labs don't test all the bands, were the test to be done at Igenex, where they test all the bands, your IgM may show more positive.
But it does not matter. Lyme testing can dance around the circle. (I actually have no idea exactly what that means but it's the only way I can come close to saying what I can't find words for.)
WHO will be treating you ? Not a name (as we want to protect LLMDs privacy) but is he an ILADS-educated LLMD for certain? Where/how did you find him?
You will also need to be assessed for other tick-borne infections. A good LLMD will do that.
LLMD is a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor -----------
"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both. Some antibodies against the borrelia are given more significance if they are IgG versus IgM, or vice versa.
Since this is a chronic persistent infection, this does not make a lot of sense to me. A newly formed Borrelia burgdorferi should have the same antigen parts as the previous bacteria that produced it.
But anyway, from my clinical experience, these borrelia associated bands usually predict a clinical change in symptoms with antibiotics, regardless of whether they are IgG or IgM."
========================
This explains WHY you need an ILADS LLMD or ILADS LL ND (naturopathic doctor) to guide your treatment protocol.
posted
Yes. Because of the type of bacteria it generally shows up as IgM. In fact, mine was IgG and my LLMD told me that was unusual, that MOST are IgM positive.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both. Some antibodies against the borrelia are given more significance if they are IgG versus IgM, or vice versa.
Since this is a chronic persistent infection, this does not make a lot of sense to me. A newly formed Borrelia burgdorferi should have the same antigen parts as the previous bacteria that produced it.
But anyway, from my clinical experience, these borrelia associated bands usually predict a clinical change in symptoms with antibiotics, regardless of whether they are IgG or IgM."
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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