posted
How do you know if your immune system is weak by blood work results? Is it determined by WBC, RBC or something else?
Posts: 36 | From NH | Registered: Nov 2018
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Bartenderbonnie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 49177
posted
I got dismissed from my primary doctor's practice after being a patient for close to 20 years. I was dying, unable to walk, speak a sentence or take care of myself. My western blot showed 3 reactive bands, 23, 39 and 41.He gave me a referal for a pyschriatist and 1 week later, a certified letter came dismissing me from his practice.
It took me 6 months to get an appointment for a new primary. Best thing that ever happened to me. He listened attentively for over 1/2 an hour and ordered me lots of blood work. We soon discovered I had an immune disorder. A simple blood test for IgG subclasses 1 - 4, IgM, and IgA. I was dangerously low and now I recieved IVIG monthly.
Interesting, my LLMD also tested my IgG subclasses 1-4 at my first visit. Smart doctors are worth every dime, they save lives.
posted
yep - immunoglobulin imbalances are a common finding and barrier to recovery in lyme - according to Horowitz
but there are plenty of other disorders of the immune system - as its a complex beast
some may be visible on a CBC - like odd numbers for the various white blood cells - but if its anything like mine - a different marker will be a little out of range each timei am tested but nothing that would make teh average primary care doctor pay attention.
there is a more specialized test often performed as a supplementary test in suspected Lyme patients. eg a count of particular type of white blood cells called CD57+ cells. this is a particular form of white blood cell involved in fighting viruses and bacterial pathogens are are often found to be low in lyme disease ( but also occasionally very high )
mine are around 1/10th of the average healthy number for instance. Lyme testing labs usually offer this test.
Posts: 245 | From UK | Registered: Feb 2020
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posted
You can get a standard WBC bloodtest count.
Re CD57, mine was in normal range altho I was sick. It doesn't always correlate.
Posts: 13171 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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Re CD57, mine was in normal range altho I was sick. It doesn't always correlate.
yep, that's why it's used as a supplementary test.
since there are NO foolproof tests for lyme testing and diagnosis is a case of using several tests, each using different methodologies, together with patient history and symptoms pattern to build a probabilistic result.
Posts: 245 | From UK | Registered: Feb 2020
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susank
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22150
posted
On a Chem. Panel - look at Globulins and A/G ratio. That was my GP's clue something was wrong. Further testing revealed an immune deficiency ie CVID. I started on IVIG. The ID was discovered around the time Lyme was suspected and/or Dx'd - I was in bad shape - still am. I looked at old bloodwork - my Globs and A/G ratio had always been in ref. range. I now suspect Lyme caused my immune system to crash.
-------------------- Pos.Bb culture 2012 Labcorp - no bands ever Igenex - Neg. 4 times With overall bands: IGM 18,28,41,66 IND: 23-25,34,39 IGG 41,58 IND: 39 Bart H IGG 40 Posts: 1613 | From Texas | Registered: Aug 2009
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