New Antibody Results - Would like to compare

[matis_mom]

I just got results back for my son (age 12). I am excited that the numbers are going down, however, I have to say his anxiety has not improved much. Or rather, it was better and then his sister got strep and we saw him regress. The October numbers are from BEFORE the flare up...

 

I was just wondering how this compares to other kids. After five months of abxs, is this considered good progress?

 

_____________July 09______October 09

ASO:________ 415___________371

Dnase:_______ 680___________480

Streptozyme:__200___________100

 

Isabel

[ajcire]

I would think these numbers aren't really comparable amongst kids. Wouldn't it all depend on when each kid last had strep? My ds had an aso test done 2 weeks ago. His ASO is 480. But he had a positive strep culture in September.

[EAMom]

You also can't compare if they were run at different labs. Our dd's were always low/normal (despite positive cultures and strep 2 mo. before). Last April, her ASO was 17 (basically undectable) after being on abs for 1 year...however, her CaM kinase ll came back in the high PANDAS range.

 

For us ASO/anti-dnase b were never helpful and didn't correlate in any way with symptoms...but that may not be the case for everyone.

[dcmom]

I have also found these titers to be completely unreliable, and will not have them done again on either of my kids. We were also told by a neuropsych who worked with Swedo- not to bother with them as well. I did have them done once on my dd and they were normal- but it was meaningless, she had had a positive strep culture a month before, and she was presenting clinically with pandas.

 

I would warn anyone against having them done- if they are normal, or if they improve to normal it may be a reason for doctors not to treat. The real measure for whether to treat is if the child is presenting with symptoms. It is a lot to put these kids through continual blood tests to track these numbers...

 

Just my opinion...

[sf_mom]

I think a better measure would be CaM Kinase. In my younger son his ASO is negative, his anti-DNAse-B is negative, his CaM Kinase is 148. Individuals with Kawasaki's Disease do not have positive throat cultures, positive ASO Titers, positive Anti-DNAse-B but yet blood testing shows:

 

Kawasaki disease recovering from the acute, febrile phase of the illness exhibited an exaggerated cell-mediated reactivity, as measured by the macrophage migration inhibition test, to group A -haemolytic streptococci, their pyrogenic exotoxin and streptolysin 0 as well as to several mammalian muscle cell extracts which are allegedly related antigenically to the cell wall and/or cytoplasmic membrane ofS. pyogenes. Protoplast-like spherical bodies varying in diameter from 0.5 to 1.5 m, and devoid of cell walls, were detected in the buffy coats of peripheral blood from patients with this disease,

 

http://www.springerlink.com/content/l34qj830548q4q46/

[matis_mom]

I have to agree with you all about not seeing a direct relation with the symptoms, but I do have to say he is better physically overall. So, I will take these results as "we are making progress" on the body, still have to do something about the brain! We are seeing Dr. Latimer next week, and are hoping to get our CamKinase by then.

His OCD focuses on germs and handwashing, and lately he started being concerned about whether or not he is brushing his teeth right, and on to scrupulous thoughts... I feel we are loosing ground!

 

Isabel