My previous post was so long I thought it best to do this question separately.
What is the feeling about the usefulness of the CD57 test?
My previous doctor thought it was quite useful.
My new doctor feels it is of little value.
My experience was that it had value. When my CD 57 was over 70 ( it has never been above 75)I felt pretty good when it was below 40 I felt pretty bad.
I suggested doing a CD57 to my new doc to see if going back on amox was helping me. His reply was that he did not think the test useful
Thanks again
Posted by LAXlover (Member # 25518) on :
It has been very useful for all three of my family members.
As long as you are doing regular blood work via LabCorp, what is the harm. I would say nicely to your new doc that it seems to tell your story well and that you would like to keep running it quarterly or so for your information purposes.
I just knew that my one daughter had Lyme when her ped ran the test for me and it came back in the 20's. It was correct!
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
The CD57 is controversial among LLMD's. One LLMD did a session on it at the Boston ILADS conference this past year.
It is a good guide most of the time for the LLMD to know how your immune system is working, but some people either stay very low or very high in spite of the fact they go into remission.
My LLMD prefers to use it.
Posted by LuluBelle (Member # 38865) on :
Thank you LAXlover and faithful777. I will politely try again to get it checked at my next appointment.
Any one else with an opinion I would love to hear from you.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
My take is that 75 AND 40 are too low!! So I would think you would feel awful either way.
The only problem they've found with the test is that it's not "true" for every patient. Sometimes a person will have a very high CD57 and they feel like &%$# .. and vice versa.
Posted by gigimac (Member # 33353) on :
What about the score 82? My llmd seemed very pleased with that number but from what I have gathered it doesn't sound so good. Borderline low I think.
Does 82 mean your immune system is on the low side?
Posted by Thewino (Member # 39086) on :
Lulubelle,
You have such a pretty on-line name.
Anyway, think of the CD-57 blood test as one more tool in the tool box.
It's not the only equipment in the toolbox but is a useful tool when used in concert with the rest of the toolbox.
My count is in the 20's. My physician considers me immunocomprimised for this and other reasons.
Warm regards, Thewino
Posted by unsure445 (Member # 15962) on :
My llmd doesn't order it but I had it done through another practitioner. She said that the key is to see your starting number triple.
So if your CD57 is 20 and you get to 60, that is huge and it means you are in really good shape.
I know this isn't the same as what other practitioners say but she uses it religiously and claims this is what to look for.
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
The fact is not everyone's numbers change when they get better. Like Lymtoo said, some people have good CD57 numbers and still are sick. Others can go into remission and feel great but still have a low number.
It is just a guide that only sometimes works. Review the Boston ILADS session on the CD57 test to hear what the ups and downs of the test are.
Posted by LuluBelle (Member # 38865) on :