Aa
Developing Antibodies?
Hello - This question is for Terri. How long after being on suppressive antiviral treatment would it take to develop detectable antibodies. I've tested serology IGG/IGM after 6 weeks of being on suppressive therapy for 3 months. Before and during medication all results were negative. I understand antivirals can affect test results.
I understand some people never develop detectable antibodies. Would you recommend Western Blot?
I'm 29 year old male with good health history. Lab work did indicate low WBC however. Genital exposure to positive HSV1 female. Autoinnoculated to face one month after exposure. Have experienced vision loss, blepharitis, vitreous syneresis and glacoma suspect - attributed to suspicion of HSV.
Thank you in advance.
I understand some people never develop detectable antibodies. Would you recommend Western Blot?
I'm 29 year old male with good health history. Lab work did indicate low WBC however. Genital exposure to positive HSV1 female. Autoinnoculated to face one month after exposure. Have experienced vision loss, blepharitis, vitreous syneresis and glacoma suspect - attributed to suspicion of HSV.
Thank you in advance.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You should discuss this kind of testing with your own provider. There are general blood tests that can look at immune responses, and there are more specific tests that look at specific kinds of immune cells, like CD4 and CD8 cells, but basically, you are moving out of my area of expertise here.
The western blot is more sensitive for HSV 1 than the ELISA test, but you being on suppression makes all of these much harder to sort out, honestly.
Terri
The western blot is more sensitive for HSV 1 than the ELISA test, but you being on suppression makes all of these much harder to sort out, honestly.
Terri
Thanks for your response Terri. Yes my ophthalmologist has suspected HSV has attributed to these conditions. I was placed on antivirals and steroid drops by my doctor.
Therefore based on your experience, what test would indicate that I'm immune compromised and cannot develop antibodies?
Therefore based on your experience, what test would indicate that I'm immune compromised and cannot develop antibodies?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It depends upon how long it was after exposure that you began the antiviral medication. I like people to have a total of 4 months off suppression after possible exposure to the virus.
Genital exposure to HSV 1, as you probably know, is a very low risk for transmission. Did an ophthalmologist tell you you had all of these eye conditions that you describe?? And attribute them to herpes? I'm not an eye doctor so I don't even know what vitreous syneresis is, but I've not heard it ever attributed to having herpes of the eye - nor ever glaucoma. But again, they are the eye doctor, not me. Just would have supposed that I would have heard this association before.
Yes, in 32 years of practice, I have had nine people who test western blot negative and HSV 2 swab test positive - a very small number indeed.
If your doctor really feels that you have HSV 1 of the eye, then yes, I would recommend that you get a western blot to confirm that diagnosis.
Terri
Genital exposure to HSV 1, as you probably know, is a very low risk for transmission. Did an ophthalmologist tell you you had all of these eye conditions that you describe?? And attribute them to herpes? I'm not an eye doctor so I don't even know what vitreous syneresis is, but I've not heard it ever attributed to having herpes of the eye - nor ever glaucoma. But again, they are the eye doctor, not me. Just would have supposed that I would have heard this association before.
Yes, in 32 years of practice, I have had nine people who test western blot negative and HSV 2 swab test positive - a very small number indeed.
If your doctor really feels that you have HSV 1 of the eye, then yes, I would recommend that you get a western blot to confirm that diagnosis.
Terri
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
