clearing strep vs. prophylaxis

[mara]

hi everyone. what would you recommend for clearing the strep antibodies? does prophylactic antibiotics help prevent strep but also continue to help clear already elevated levels of antibodies from a recent episode of strep? thanks!

 

julie

[Buster]

Hi Julie,

 

I'm not sure there is a great answer to your question.

 

The current research indicates that the ASO and AntiDNAse B antibodies are not the problem. A rising titer in either of them indicates a prior strep infection, but a falling titer or stable titer does not seem to mean a lot (even if elevated).

 

In most people, propholatic antibiotics do keep titers low by reducing the spread of any bacteria that invades to the blood stream -- however, if the person is really "allergic" to an exotoxin of strep, there can still be very high/elevated responses since propholatic antibiotics reduce the spread but not the existance of strep.

 

The best research I've found thus far indicates that the likely culprit in PANDAS is a very different monoclonal antibody that targets GlcNAc (a carbohydrate) (see research by Kirvan and Cunningham). For reasons not understood, this antibody crosses the blood brain barrier and causes inflamation and/or interferes with dopamin reception in the basal ganglia (at least that's the theory). The thought is that IVIG interferes with the creation of this antibody or the new IgG identifies it as autoimmune and suppresses the antibody.

 

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any way to test for this antibody so the objective of prophylactic antibiotics is to try to minimize re-infection even if recolonization occurs. Colonization means that the bacteria is growing on the skin or throat. Infection means that the bacteria has invaded the blood stream.

 

 

Regards,

 

Buster

 

hi everyone. what would you recommend for clearing the strep antibodies? does prophylactic antibiotics help prevent strep but also continue to help clear already elevated levels of antibodies from a recent episode of strep? thanks!

 

julie

[mara]

thanks so much buster. do you know of any less invasive alternatives to IVIG that might interfere with this antibody? what about IgG orally? my son is currently taking immunotix by xymogen and considering IgG...

 

thanks.

julie

 

 

quote name='Buster' date='Feb 5 2009, 10:59 PM' post='30006']

Hi Julie,

 

I'm not sure there is a great answer to your question.

 

The current research indicates that the ASO and AntiDNAse B antibodies are not the problem. A rising titer in either of them indicates a prior strep infection, but a falling titer or stable titer does not seem to mean a lot (even if elevated).

 

In most people, propholatic antibiotics do keep titers low by reducing the spread of any bacteria that invades to the blood stream -- however, if the person is really "allergic" to an exotoxin of strep, there can still be very high/elevated responses since propholatic antibiotics reduce the spread but not the existance of strep.

 

The best research I've found thus far indicates that the likely culprit in PANDAS is a very different monoclonal antibody that targets GlcNAc (a carbohydrate) (see research by Kirvan and Cunningham). For reasons not understood, this antibody crosses the blood brain barrier and causes inflamation and/or interferes with dopamin reception in the basal ganglia (at least that's the theory). The thought is that IVIG interferes with the creation of this antibody or the new IgG identifies it as autoimmune and suppresses the antibody.

 

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any way to test for this antibody so the objective of prophylactic antibiotics is to try to minimize re-infection even if recolonization occurs. Colonization means that the bacteria is growing on the skin or throat. Infection means that the bacteria has invaded the blood stream.

 

 

Regards,

 

Buster

 

hi everyone. what would you recommend for clearing the strep antibodies? does prophylactic antibiotics help prevent strep but also continue to help clear already elevated levels of antibodies from a recent episode of strep? thanks!

 

julie