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New treatment trial
Dear Doc,
First, thank you very much for taking the time at answering our concerns.
I just read an article on a new treatment trial here in the US that consists of a vaccine AG-707, and for what I understood, it basically 'teaches' the body to fight the virus with its own immune system. Read more on www.antigenics.com.
I also came accross a clinic in Mexico that uses a similar treatment with vaccines on already infected patients. The vaccines are created from the patient's own blood and in addition the patients are to follow the Gerson diet (juicing and detox) to help the immune system be at its peak while taking the vaccines.
The Mexico Doctors claimed to be very succesful at treating Herpes and other degenerative diseases such cancer.
I was told that even if go through with the treatment I will always test positive for antibodies to HSV 2.
Now assuming I don't want to wait for the US vaccine to be FDA approved and all that. Here some questions:
1-Is there any other way to test for the virus itself without an outbreak?
2-How do you test for asymptomatic shedding?
3-Being that the virus house itself in the spine. Can a biopsy or something like that be useful at testing for the virus itself after said treatment is completed?
I was just diagnosed 3 weeks ago, had a cheating husband and went to get an STD screening to get the news. Have not yet experienced an outbreak. Tested positive for type 2, negative for type 1.
Please advise
First, thank you very much for taking the time at answering our concerns.
I just read an article on a new treatment trial here in the US that consists of a vaccine AG-707, and for what I understood, it basically 'teaches' the body to fight the virus with its own immune system. Read more on www.antigenics.com.
I also came accross a clinic in Mexico that uses a similar treatment with vaccines on already infected patients. The vaccines are created from the patient's own blood and in addition the patients are to follow the Gerson diet (juicing and detox) to help the immune system be at its peak while taking the vaccines.
The Mexico Doctors claimed to be very succesful at treating Herpes and other degenerative diseases such cancer.
I was told that even if go through with the treatment I will always test positive for antibodies to HSV 2.
Now assuming I don't want to wait for the US vaccine to be FDA approved and all that. Here some questions:
1-Is there any other way to test for the virus itself without an outbreak?
2-How do you test for asymptomatic shedding?
3-Being that the virus house itself in the spine. Can a biopsy or something like that be useful at testing for the virus itself after said treatment is completed?
I was just diagnosed 3 weeks ago, had a cheating husband and went to get an STD screening to get the news. Have not yet experienced an outbreak. Tested positive for type 2, negative for type 1.
Please advise
http://apps.rgp.ufl.edu/otl/viewTechInfo.cfm?case=10994
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The website you refer to describes a Phase I trial. That is a very early phase of research, and most new treatments (for all diseases, not just herpes or STDs) never get beyond phase I; other therapeutic HSV vaccines have died before making it to phase II, let alone phase III, which requires success to get FDA approval and come to market. Even if this particular vaccine is effective, it likely won't be commercially available for a 6-8 years at the earliest.
As I said originally, there is no easy, readily available test for asymptomatic shedding. The tests I described assays to either grow HSV (culture) or detect viral DNA (the PCR test). You need to face the reality that you likely will never know the frequency with which you shed HSV-2 asymptomatically. Again, I just don't wan't you to have unrealistic explanations.
HHH, MD
As I said originally, there is no easy, readily available test for asymptomatic shedding. The tests I described assays to either grow HSV (culture) or detect viral DNA (the PCR test). You need to face the reality that you likely will never know the frequency with which you shed HSV-2 asymptomatically. Again, I just don't wan't you to have unrealistic explanations.
HHH, MD
Other Herpes sites have discussed the mexico "treatment", unfortunately it is a scam.
Thanks Bluebird for comments. I did get the proper test done IgG , the range is 2.4 so I am definitely positive and pretty sure carry the virus,even though I haven't sen an outbreak yet.
This US trial is a hope for treatment not cure (something instead of the pills) However the mexican doctors are pretty confident that with their treatment they can 'cure' it. But because I am a person of too many questions I was wondering how to test for the virus itself and confirm afterall that the treatment worked, if I get it done.
Maybe...If a test for the shedding now and see how often it happens and then test for it after treatment then I will possibly get a clue of the damn bug subsiding...
This US trial is a hope for treatment not cure (something instead of the pills) However the mexican doctors are pretty confident that with their treatment they can 'cure' it. But because I am a person of too many questions I was wondering how to test for the virus itself and confirm afterall that the treatment worked, if I get it done.
Maybe...If a test for the shedding now and see how often it happens and then test for it after treatment then I will possibly get a clue of the damn bug subsiding...
Thanks Doc. This is a new trial just started 2 days ago.
Being done here in the US.
Please read article http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/051018/185272.html?.v=1
Or go to www.antigenics.com for more info.
It is a vaccine meant to treat already infected patients not to prevent new infections.
I am not sure if you can answer further questions but if you could:
Does testing for virus shedding involve just a culture look up under a microscope? Or is it some sort complicated chemical analysis?
Please advise if you can. The reason for this question is because perhaps I can do this at home. Thanks again.
Being done here in the US.
Please read article http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/051018/185272.html?.v=1
Or go to www.antigenics.com for more info.
It is a vaccine meant to treat already infected patients not to prevent new infections.
I am not sure if you can answer further questions but if you could:
Does testing for virus shedding involve just a culture look up under a microscope? Or is it some sort complicated chemical analysis?
Please advise if you can. The reason for this question is because perhaps I can do this at home. Thanks again.
I thought you can get a specific type test (HerpeSelect) and it will tell if you have the antibody to the virus even though you are not experiencing an outbreak?? Also, I thought there is not a cure for herpes?
Also the goal here is to kill the virus so the main question is how can that be probed?
Forgot to say I am a female. Maybe it gets easier o test shedding with vaginal fluids, don't know.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I am unaware of an experimental herpes vaccine with that name, and I am confident that there is no product in Mexico or eslewhere that can do what you say they claim. The legitimate vaccines currently in research trials are not intended to cure or treat existing infection, only to prevent new infections. I can tell you with great assurance that there will be no treatment within the next 10 years, and probably not for 20 years (maybe never) that can eradicate HSV infection or prevent recurrent outbreaks. Do not be tempted by claims to the contrary, from Mexico or elsewhere' it is quackery and nothing more. IIf yourHSV-2 (with a reliable test), you will have the infection (and a positive test) for life. (I don't mean to be harsh, but do not want you to have unrealistic hopes or expectations either.)
To answer your specific questions:
1) If or when you have an outbreak, you can be tested for the virus itself. But in the absence of an outbreak, there is nothing but the blood test, which you already have had.
2) There is no practical test for asympomatic shedding. You can assume you have it from time to time. In theory, you could use the method employed in research: daily tests from the vagina, vaginal opening, and around the anus every day for 2-3 months, to see how often the virus is present when you don't have symptoms. But at $50-100 per test, it obviously isn't practical.
3) No, the nerve ganglia where the virus resides cannot be accessed for biopsy; and if it could be done, the damage to the ganglion would cause neurological deficits. There is nothing to be learned from such a biopsy anyway.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
To answer your specific questions:
1) If or when you have an outbreak, you can be tested for the virus itself. But in the absence of an outbreak, there is nothing but the blood test, which you already have had.
2) There is no practical test for asympomatic shedding. You can assume you have it from time to time. In theory, you could use the method employed in research: daily tests from the vagina, vaginal opening, and around the anus every day for 2-3 months, to see how often the virus is present when you don't have symptoms. But at $50-100 per test, it obviously isn't practical.
3) No, the nerve ganglia where the virus resides cannot be accessed for biopsy; and if it could be done, the damage to the ganglion would cause neurological deficits. There is nothing to be learned from such a biopsy anyway.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs 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.
