posted
Hi Again, As I am waiting for my insurance to be re-instated, I asked my doctor to fax the actual lab results to me. It reads:
LYME DISEASE (IGM), WB LYME DISEASE INTERP (IGM) - POSITIVE 23 KD (IGM) BAND - REACTIVE 39 KD (IGM) BAND - NONREACTIVE 41 KD (IGM) BAND - REACTIVE
Has anyone ever seen this and what does this mean? It appears to me that 2 of the 3 bands are reactive, so that would mean a positive result. But, the doctor circled a note on the report reading:
"Caution must be used in supporting a diagnosis of B. burgdorferi infection when sera are Western blot IgM positive and Western blot IgG negative after the initial 4 week period of onset. Because the likelihood of a false-positive test result is high for these individuals a positive IgG test alone is not recommended for use in determining active disease in persons with illness of longer than one month."
But the following paragraph reads: "IgM Western Blots which have 2 (or more) of the 3 significant bands are considered positive for specific antibody to B. burgdorferi. (Proceeding of hte 2nd Conf on Lyme Disease, Dearborn, MI 1994.)"
I am nervous and am not sure what to do as I wait for my insurance to be reinstated.
Please help, if you can.
Posts: 6 | From New York, NY | Registered: Apr 2008
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
It sounds as if your doctor is not Lyme literate. I would go see an LLMD (Lyme literate MD).
If you have symptoms and that blood test, I would say you most likely have Lyme Disease.
IgM in most infections indicated early infection .... but borrelia acts differently and most people who are chronic are IgM positive rather than IgG positive.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
i agree with six. find a llmd. you can do that by going to the seeking a doctor forum.
actually, false positives in lyme are VERY rare. false negatives are what many of us have to deal with.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
I had the EXACT same results as you. I had been sick for almost 18 months and was told it was likely a new lyme infection ON TOP OF what was already ailing me (that was a bummer).
As you may already know, IgM suggests recent infection while IgG suggests infection occurred >4 weeks ago. That being said, many doctors/scientists believe if you only have an IgM response and have been sick for more than a month, it must not be Lyme.
Needless to say, I began treatment and got worse, much worse. It has been an uphill battle for the last 9 months.
Since, I've had 2 more Western Blot results performed since and continue to have IgM positive results (band 39 showed up as well) and a limited IgG response. Some doctors would tell me this suggests it is not Lyme and never was Lyme while other doctors would tell me it is still suggestive of Lyme (especially since everything known to medicine that could cross-react with my test results or my symptoms I have ruled out).
Needless to say, I have researched the testing/results to death and there are NO CLEAR ANSWERS. I've found that those with neurological involvement seem to have a higher false negative rate than those with arthritic involvement. If your symptoms and exposure suggest it could be Lyme then your test results also support it could be lyme.
Sorry, mumble-jumble response....you really need to be evaluated by a LLMD to help you sift through all of this as the testing is not reliable enough on their own.
Kristin
Posts: 561 | From mass | Registered: Jul 2007
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As you may already know, IgM suggests recent infection while IgG suggests infection occurred >4 weeks ago.
Not true. I explain this at least once a week!
From Dr C's WB explanation [link posted above]:
"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."
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Did this doc do a WB IgG?
Positive IgM is enough for me.
Go find a LLMD asap and start treatment.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
Thank you all for your responses. The doctor did not do an IGC. I am going to a LLMD, ASAP!
Posts: 6 | From New York, NY | Registered: Apr 2008
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posted
Just to follow-up on Lymetoo's correction of my earlier statement....yes, IgM can be seen at different stages of the infection and can even linger for a period of time after the infection has been cleared/person asymptomatic. Yes, an IgG Western blot may be of some value (I assumed you had it done and it was negative....)
No doubt, the test results suggest that you should find a LLMD!!
Posts: 561 | From mass | Registered: Jul 2007
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