Lab Results

[Char8853]

I just received my lab results for EBV and they are as follows:

EBV Early Antigen Ab, IgG    0.3
EBV Ab VCA, Igg                  >8.0
EBV Nuclear Antigen Ab, IgG >8.0

Does anyone know what this means? I have been exhausted for over 3 months now.

[9DodgeFan]

Based on what you've said, including what your doctor told you, you did have mono or an EBV re-activation; your high titer results show that to be true.  However, since the early titers were low, it's not a "recent" (meaning last couple weeks) infection.  Believe it or not, EBV can be very debilitating.  It sounds like you're doing a good job of trying to help yourself recover, so it's difficult to say what else you can do; really, rest is the best medicine there is.  When you do start feeling better, you'll want to take things very slowly; otherwise, you can have a relapse.  Try not to get discouraged!  For me it took over a year before I felt like I was finally getting back to "normal".  So I'm not trying to scare you; I just wanted to let you know you're not alone in dealing with the EBV monster!

[overflow]

Hello all,
I am an otherwise healthy and active 38 year old female. After experiencing 2 months of feeling "ill" and slowly progressive fatigue/weakness, I was finally diagnosed as likely having mono due to high EBV VCA IgG titers >600 (although early antigen titers were low). My physician states that this is not certain for acute disease, but based on symptoms, most likely.
I had many blood tests, brain MRI, cardiac echo; this has been the only positive result. I have been off work for a month. I know EBV is associated with weakness and fatigue, but I would really like to know from others if their symptoms have truly been debilitating. I barely can walk, I have to hold on to the rail when climbing steps, and I get tired very easily (just starting to slowly improve this week). Could this truly all be EBV? Anyone heard of mild cases of Guillain Barre associated with mono? My job has been supportive, but they keep asking when I think I can return. I have one "good day", followed by 1-2 bad days. It's so unpredictable. I am hesitant to return to work because I move around a lot on my job, on my feet, and mentally demanding. I have basically been housebound for one month.

[overflow]

Hello all,
I am an otherwise healthy and active 38 year old female. After experiencing 2 months of feeling "ill" and slowly progressive fatigue/weakness, I was finally diagnosed as likely having mono due to high EBV VCA IgG titers >600 (although early antigen titers were low). My physician states that this is not certain for acute disease, but based on symptoms, most likely.
I had many blood tests, brain MRI, cardiac echo; this has been the only positive result. I have been off work for a month. I know EBV is associated with weakness and fatigue, but I would really like to know from others if their symptoms have truly been debilitating. I barely can walk, I have to hold on to the rail when climbing steps, and I get tired very easily (just starting to slowly improve this week). Could this truly all be EBV? Anyone heard of mild cases of Guillain Barre associated with mono? My job has been supportive, but they keep asking when I think I can return. I have one "good day", followed by 1-2 bad days. It's so unpredictable. I am hesitant to return to work because I move around a lot on my job, on my feet, and mentally demanding. I have basically been housebound for one month.

[9DodgeFan]

I always considered acute and active to mean the same thing, but maybe your doctor has a different definition.  You may not be in the acute phase (as shown by your "early" antigen test result), but given your high results for the other titers, as well as your continued symptoms, I think you still have what could be considered an active case.

[AndrewStanley160791]

I am not very familiar with these lab readings or such but epstein barr virus is a herpes family virus also called herpes simplex virus type 4 and stays in your system allthroughout your life.
It enters once , and it is almost close to inevitable to prevent this as it is one of the easiest spread viruses one comes across.It enters once and can reactivate several times and what causes this reactivation is unknown in the field of science.It may lead to Mono close 35-60 % of the times but may not cause mono , but continue to cause certain symptoms like fatigue,mild fever,feeling of irritation,loss of appetite and a general sick feeling,sometimes swollen glands usually in the neck and a kind of rash which is sometimes misinterpreted as heat rash or a general allergy.I myself am not a doctor but after become a victim of this virus i did intensive research and spoke to various doctors and people of knowledge.Most said it is nothing to worry about and my doctor said just ignore it,and get on with your work.My piece of advice is take maximum rest possible if feasible even a period of 1-2 months at home if not complete bed rest but limit your daily activities to the minimum and just relax and take it easy.Roger Federer faced this virus during the some open i dont know french or australian or wimbledon and he performed miserably this time that is what my doctor told me , i am not a big fan of tennis.And i myself being a student performed horrible in my exams due to this virus.So consult your doctors and try and treat your symptoms and also get tested for various other viruses etc that are appropriate to your activities just to be sure thats what i did.

Thanks , I hope this helps.

[Char8853]

I went to my doctor and she indicated that I do not have acute EBV, she believes that I had mono in Dec. I also broke out with Pityriasis rosea in January.  I'm taking off work for the next week and a half. I plan to do nothing, and it's not that hard because I have no energy. My normal is working a full-time, high stress job and also having a life, this is no longer possible.
Can you explain the difference between Acute EBV and Active EBV? Are they the same?

Thanks for anyone information on this.

[9DodgeFan]

That's correct; you have an active EBV infection.  You need to try to really get a LOT of rest.  It's not easy, but the more you can get, the sooner you will fight off the active EBV.

[AndrewStanley160791]

This means you are currently facing an active current EBV infection.I too am suffering from EBV and have been exhausted for almost a year now.
What are your symptoms ?