posted
This one took me a lot of time to "get" for some reason so I had to come up with something to keep it straight in my mind. i notice OFTEN that others struggle keeping this straight. So I thought I would post what has worked for me.
IgM - M= mobile - active IgG - G=Grandfathered - old or been there a long time
Chronic or late des. Bb will typically show stronger IgG.
Hope it helps others!
-------------------- Seeking renewed health & vitality. --------------------------------- Do not take anything I say as medical advice - I am NOT a dr! Posts: 830 | From TN | Registered: Aug 2007
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Lymeorsomething
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16359
posted
CJ-
Just note that positive IGM blots are often indicative of persistent infection as well...according to Igenex and other LLMDs...
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
Yes...I was sick for almost 3 years, but my IgM was a stronger positive than my IgG, though both showed positive bands.
Posts: 566 | From West Coast | Registered: May 2008
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posted
I was IgM LabCorp positive and I KNOW that I have had this awful disease for at least 10 years prior to testing, if not longer. One of the many quirks of this disease.
Jan
Posts: 90 | From Knoxville, TN | Registered: Jun 2008
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charlie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25
posted
....a bunch of us used to use IgM=IgModern, and IgG=IgGone( old infection)
word association is a good memory aid.
Charlie
Posts: 2804 | From Texas | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I am only IgG positive on my western Blot.. so if IgG means GONE, I guess I better start looking for yet another Diagnosis..
-------------------- "You'll be surprised to know how far you can go from the point you thought it was the end" Posts: 946 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Apr 2008
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Dawnee
Unregistered
posted
My doctor explained that IGG (Gold=Old) lol Thats how I remember
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quote:Originally posted by UnexpectedIlls: [QB] I am only IgG positive on my western Blot.. so if IgG means GONE, I guess I better start looking for yet another Diagnosis..
Never fear.
From Dr C's Western Blot explanation [I hope you have read it several times]:
"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."
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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charlie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25
posted
...Shandy.....Gone just means an old infection...
Posts: 2804 | From Texas | Registered: Oct 2000
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-------------------- "You'll be surprised to know how far you can go from the point you thought it was the end" Posts: 946 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Apr 2008
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hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
IgM = "M - mediate" ....immediate
(current)
Posts: 1672 | From AL/WV/OH | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
What does it mean then if you are IgG positive but IgM negative (only one band reacted on IgM)?
Posts: 710 | From West Coast | Registered: May 2008
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