posted
I have a serious case of Lymes and am taking Rocephin for total of 12 weeks when finished. Will I always test positive for antibodies with the Elisa and Western Blot tests? If so, how do I find out if I don't have it anymore, only symptoms?
Posts: 14 | From Trenton, New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2008
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adamm
Unregistered
posted
No--even the majority of symptomatic Lyme patients (the disease is incurable) will get negative test results. Positive test are good signs, though-- If you're getting one and you're asymptomatic, it means your immune system's got the thing under control. I guess the only danger would be the induction of autoimmunity via what's called "molecular mimicry.."
david1097
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3662
posted
Adamm I don't think that is the question. The question as I understand it is will antibodies always be detectable after treatment.
The IgG is supposed to stay positive for ever. IgM not.
This is at the center of the WB bands dispute. Lymerix causes some of the IGG bands to light up permanently and they did not want to use those bands for diagnostic purposes... or so they say.
ILADS has a method that they suggest for determining when the infection is supressed. It involves monitoring the symptoms and flare up cycles.
In the end the only way to find out is to stop the drugs and see what happens when things seem to stabilize.
[ 17. November 2008, 10:28 PM: Message edited by: david1097 ]
Posts: 1184 | From north america | Registered: Feb 2003
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gemofnj
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15551
posted
Lawrence,
As far as I know, there is no test that tells if we dont have lyme anymore.
IGG or Elisa, denotes past infection. Your IGM (current infection) WB can be negative, but if you have symptoms, most LLMD's will treat those symptoms until they are gone for at least 2 months.
My LLMD will re-test my CD 57 which indicates if the immune system is back up to normal..but this is also not a reliable source of remission.
My first test was 45. She indicated when my CD57 gets back up to 120 and I am symptom free for 2 MONTHS, only then will she stop all treatment.
Posts: 1127 | From atlantic city, nj | Registered: May 2008
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