THANK YOU.
Posted by the flim-flam man (Member # 23310) on :
I was exposed to Lyme in 1989. Diagnosed in 2001. Had a blood test done on December 1, 2009. BOTH IGM and IGG were negative. From what I understand about Lyme (which isn't much), it is more of a clinical diagnosis.
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
My take on this is to test for all kinds of things first, before considering infectious pathogens as the cause of your illness. So, go to your PCP and other specialists and rule out what could be causing your problems. If everything comes back normal, then consider infectious pathogens.
While considering infectious pathogens you have to look at not just lyme, but also viruses such as HHV-6, EBV, enterovirus and also Cpn (chlamydia pneumonia).
Test for lots of things, treat what looks most obviously wrong. The problem with going with a "clincial diagnosis" is viruses can look a lot like lyme disease symptom wise.
Best, Timaca
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Hi kmj. With lyme disease, the rules regarding IgG and IgM just don't apply. I know that you would expect a long-standing disease to show positive on the IgG, but that is not the way it is with lyme.
At the top of "Medical Questions" is a post that includes many good links. One link explains the Western Blot (IgG and IgM) test. The explanation is from a Dr. C who is a famous lyme doctor. Here is a portion of what he says about the IgG and IgM:
"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."
I hope this helps you.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
From my understanding IGM represents a chronic persistant infection.