posted
We received my wife's Wester Blot results from Igenex. The results are below. While the test states negative. I feel these are significant results. Based on the experience of the group would you please give me your opinion of the results?
"Many would say the " +/-" equivocal ["IND"] bands are not significant. The problem I have with that, is that there are "-" negative bands. The lab has no trouble calling some bands negative. So they must be seeing something when they put "+/-" at some bands.
The only thing that makes sense, is that there is a little bit of that antibody present in your serum. If the "+/-" equivocal is reported on the borrelia associated bands, it is usually significant, in my clinical experience. This is a strong clue that I am on the right track.
Instead of ignoring these, they should be a red flag to keep pursuing a laboratory diagnosis. Giving patients 4 weeks of antibiotics (usually tetracycline, 500 mg, 3 times a day), will convert a negative or equivocal Western blot to positive in about 36% of cases.
As mentioned, if these positive blots are found by specialty labs, over 99% of those patients will respond to antibiotics."
------------------ BANDS: "39: Unknown what this antigen is, but based on research at the National Institute of Health (NIH), other Borrelia (such as Borrelia recurrentis that causes relapsing fever), do not even have the genetics to code for the 39 kDa antigen, much less produce it. It is the most specific antibody for borreliosis of all.
41: Flagella or tail. This is how Borrelia burgdorferi moves around, by moving the flagella. Many bacteria have flagella. This is the most common borreliosis antibody.
66: Heat shock protein. This is the second most common borrelia antibody.
83: This is the DNA or genetic material of Borrelia burgdorferi. It is the same thing as the 93, based upon the medical literature. But laboratories vary in assigning significance to the 83 versus the 93.
93: The DNA or genetic material of Borrelia burgdorferi.
In my clinical experience, if a patient has symptoms suspicious for borreliosis, and has one or more of the following bands, there is a very high probability the patient has borreliosis.
The significant antibodies, in my opinion, are the 18, 23-25, 28, 30, 31, 34, 39, 58, 66 and 93."
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
This looks pretty similar to my W. Blot (which was negative). I had positive bands 30, 41, and 58 plus an indeterminate 39 on the IgG, and an indeterminate 34 on the IgM. Some very similar bands to this. My LLMD felt the indeterminate 39 on the IgG and the ind. 34 on the IgM were particularly significant as those -- in her opinion -- were the most specific to Lyme. I had a positive IFA test for Lyme as well so that helped. My LLMD also felt I tested too soon and that I might have more positive bands now: she is retesting me.
How soon after the tick bite was this administered? That can make a big difference.
I'm sure others will tell you other bands on here are definitely significant. Please remember Lyme is a clinical diagnosis, so the whole picture must be taken into account, including any and all symptoms, rashes, etc.
Posts: 929 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
I'm sorry I should have posted mor information.
My wife has been ill for years. Nobody has benn able to tell us what it was. Typical symptoms, fatigue, pain, also chronic infections. According to most of her doctors it was just depression. That diagnosis did not fit with the fact that she got better briefly with any antibotics. Unfortunately, the good spells in between antibotics got shorter and shorter. Now it does not get better anymore.
She actually thinks here entire family has it and she was born with it. We lived in NY for most of our lives. She really could have gotten it anytime, she does not remember a bite.
Thanks for your helpon this matter.
B&M
Posts: 65 | From Georgia | Registered: Oct 2007
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quote:Originally posted by B and M: She actually thinks here entire family has it and she was born with it. We lived in NY for most of our lives. She really could have gotten it anytime, she does not remember a bite.
Could be!! Her immune system is probably very suppressed by many years of Lyme disease. That would make it harder for the antibodies to show up.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
If she is symptomatic, then I hope you find a LLMD to look at test results and make
A diagnosis. She had some specific Lyme bands show up.
I got diagnosed with just band 23 (IgM) and tons of symptoms.
Not via Igenex though. Quest-lucky me.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
Thanks for all of your help. We have an appointment with a Dr. M in MO this week. She is so used to hearing that she has to have a positive test to be treated that she is aprehensive about this appointment.
I try to reassure here that things will be different with a LLMD.
I hope I'm right
Posts: 65 | From Georgia | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
Thanks for all of your help. We have an appointment with a Dr. M in MO this week. She is so used to hearing that she has to have a positive test to be treated that she is aprehensive about this appointment.
I try to reassure here that things will be different with a LLMD.
I hope I'm right
Posts: 65 | From Georgia | Registered: Oct 2007
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I had a bite last year with the rash and my IGENEX only came back IND 39 and 41++ . I've had all the symptoms as well. I am currently seeing a LLMD and my understanding is that the bands she did test positive for are significant. This disease is so frustrating. I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers!
Alesia
Posts: 26 | From Tuscaloosa, AL | Registered: Aug 2007
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