Question about Strep Titers

[Stephanie2]

Hi! I have a lot of questions in the last 48 hours it seems!

 

I was wondering if some of you could educate me regarding the strep titers. We had both done a few months back and they both came back "negative", but it was about 4-5 weeks after a positive throat culture. So, when should the titers rise and what does it mean that we got a negative even though he did have strep throat? I will say this, at the time of the blood draw, most of his pandas symptoms were gone b/c we had done 2 rounds of antibiotics that worded remarkably well.

 

Now, again about 4-5 weeks after another positive strep culture I would like to have his titers checked tomorrow. This time his symptoms are not gone after 2 rounds of abx (they come back every time the rx runs out). Do you think I am wasting my time?

 

Also, will Dr. Latimer say that he doesn't have pandas if his titers are negative, or does she believe that that doesn't matter?

 

Thanks!

[EAMom]

Read Buster's Aug 24 and Jan 11 posts, that should answer your questions:

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...art=#entry29305

 

In a nutshell, you don't need to bother with ASO/anti-dnase b if you already have a positive throat culture. That is all the evidence of strep you need. Sometimes testing for these titers is useful if you don't have a positive culture (the infection is past and the culture is now negative, or it is hiding out in the sinuses). That said, lots of PANDAS kids (and kids that have had strep) don't get a titer (ASO, anti-danse b ) rise. Mine didn't (despite positive cultures).

 

There is a lot of confusion in the medical community re ASO/anti-dnase B, docs assume these the antibodies responsible for the auto-immune reaction in PANDAS...this isn't the case, they are simply the strep antibodies that are easily and commonly tested.

 

Dr. Latimer will want you to have a different blood test through Dr. Madeleine Cunningham (Univ. of Oklahoma). Here is a thread on Dr. Cunningham's tests (there are lots others): http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=4834 I believe some people get this test done b-4 seeing Dr. Cunningham. It does take several weeks to get the test results so it wouldn't hurt to get those tests done if you are waiting for an appointment.