CD57?

[Ephedra]

All of my labs are normal except for this CD57 test, which clocked in at a 5.  Is this diagnostic for chronic Lyme, or are there other potential causes for a low CD57?    

[Ephedra]

How we must carefully word everything in a post.  Everyone has their own opinions and I don't doubt the CD57 in some cases.  My case is just complex.  I was basically on a chemotherapy drug not too long ago for acne (before Lyme was even considered).  I thought I could take a small enough dose, and I'd be fine.  At the same time, I was on a steroid.  So my immune system basically got bombarded with all of this medication.  I've always been healthy.  I can't remember ever having the flu, I don't smoke, ect.  So I'm thinking okay.... perhaps this medication could be a cause for a low CD57.  Then add Lyme and maybe Chlamydia pneumoniae to lower it even more.

I'm now looking into the MTHFR gene mutation and this is another complex addition to an already complicated case.  Given my family history, I definitely see an opening for this defect.  I'll figure it out!  But will the Dr even know what I am talking about?  I've spent countless hours myself, trying to sort this stuff out.  

I don't have faith in Drs.  They just don't have the time!  And I understand this!  That's why I need to know what's going on...  

Thanks!  


  

[cave76]

Ephedra----- I'm sorry for aiding and abetting in the highjacking of your thread. It was unintentional and just 'sorta happened'.  

So perhaps the last poster would start a new thread and the confusion can be cleared up there.

To get this back on track:

Your OP asked:
:All of my labs are normal except for this CD57 test, which clocked in at a 5.  Is this diagnostic for chronic Lyme, or are there other potential causes for a low CD57? "

I answered those questions. (No, the CD57 is not diagnostic for chronic Lyme if you meant can it be used like a lab test for antibodies etc to allow treatment by antibiotics.)

Other's disagreed or agreed.

Other potential causes for a low CD57.
Two were mentioned:
Chlamydia pneumoniae and Tuberculosis
(I'm sure there are more but haven't taken the time to research it.)

And Dr B. said in 2010:
"Thus, it seems that CD57 may not be as specific for Borrelia as may have been previously believed" (which he stated in his earlier Guidelines) but didn't go into any detail that I've read.

There's no fault assigned to Dr. B's thoughts about the CD57 being specific to Lyme. That's how science works. Hypotheses and refuting those hypotheses. It's always a work in progress.

[cave76]

I'm sorry, but I'm confused whether your answer to me was regarding the CD57 test or the sed rate or the false/positive/false positive Igenex Lyme tests.  

"Most cases" of which?

Most of us in this thread seem to bounce around and sometimes mention them all in the same reply.

Clarify, please?

[mojogal]

And I said in most cases. Please read more carefully if you are going to lecture someone.

[cave76]

Thank you, ephedra, for clearing that up. Semantics are a b**ch on the Internet, aren't they? (grin)

So---- now you've heard that many people get a negative even through Igenex, me being just one of them, and yet still have Lyme disease. There are dozens of reasons for that happening, but you have probably already read them.

[Ephedra]

I said that "it SEEMS everyone test positive through them" because I haven't heard of anyone testing negative through IGenex.  Seems- get the impression.  So then I followed that statement by asking "doesn't it?"  For your input.  

I'm not putting much faith in this CD57 test....  My numbers just aren't adding up.  Over 900 for B12, geez- and that was fasting for over 12 hours.            

I'm under the impression that sed rate should be higher in females, myself included.  So that's why I thought it seemed a little odd.

I'm on oral antibiotics now, so I'll just have to wait and see.