Test Results Help please

[momaine]

Hi,

I'd like some help interpreting some lab results I just got back. We don't see the doctor again to discuss them for two weeks and I'd like to learn more about it before then. Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

pneumococcal antibody panel - they tested 12 different types...and she was low on all of them. What does that mean for her?

I can list them all out if it would help.

 

(Edit) I read more online and I think this means that her body doesn't have the IgG levels to fight the strep. pneumococcal infection, which usually resides in the upper respitory tract, which would explain the chronic sinus infection. Does that ring true to anyone? (end edit)

 

She had a high white blood count. (presume that indicates current infection) Hers was 16.6 (range is 4.8-10.8) She was also on prednisone at the time of the draw? A nurse friend of mine said that can affect white blood count. Can anyone elaborate on that and how much it might skew the test? Under white blood count, specifically, her MCH was a little high. (range 27-31) she was 33.

 

Also, there was a test called C3d Circulationg Immune complexes that came out high. she was 39 and the range is 0-8 negative.

 

Her ASO and Antidnase had fallen sine the last draw. They were never high but previously were <60 <80 and now are <20 <70.

 

Thanks so much,

Angela

Edited April 28, 2010 by momaine

[sf_mom]

Angela,

 

Our children's pneumococcal antibody titers were also checked and the results are the following.

 

DS#1: Deficient in 10 of 14

DS#2: Deficient in 13 of 14

DD: Deficient in 9 of 14

 

Its been a common theme discussed on the forum but why some children are deficient remains a mystery. All my children were vaccinated appropriately and all our children were exposed to ARF at the ages of 3.75 and 6 months, two of the three got very ill at the time.

 

-Wendy

[momaine]

So does this mean she is immune deficient against strep. pneumococcal infection? That her body cannot mount a proper response to the infection and so it lingers?

 

Angela

 

Angela,

 

Our children's pneumococcal antibody titers were also checked and the results are the following.

 

DS#1: Deficient in 10 of 14

DS#2: Deficient in 13 of 14

DD: Deficient in 9 of 14

 

Its been a common theme discussed on the forum but why some children are deficient remains a mystery. All my children were vaccinated appropriately and all our children were exposed to ARF at the ages of 3.75 and 6 months, two of the three got very ill at the time.

 

-Wendy

[sf_mom]

Or she hasn't been vaccinated and exposed to pneumococcal strains.... I have had this argument with the non-believers.

 

I tend to think you are correct and you should be able to secure IVIG as result. Some non-PANDAS Dr.s will want to revaccinate to prove deficiencies. Do not let them revaccinate (just my opinion).

[momaine]

Or she hasn't been vaccinated and exposed to pneumococcal strains.... I have had this argument with the non-believers.

 

I tend to think you are correct and you should be able to secure IVIG as result. Some non-PANDAS Dr.s will want to revaccinate to prove deficiencies. Do not let them revaccinate (just my opinion).

 

My dd is 13 and has never had a pneumococcal vaccination. Dr. Bouboulis said she has a sinus infection, which is where strep. pneum. usually resides. Would it then make sense that she has pneumococcal strep in her sinuses but cannot mount a response to it, esp. where her white blood count is elevated?

 

Could the insurance companies argue that she doesn't have strep at all because of the low pneumococcal anitbody panel? I wish I had a medical background. This is so difficult to figure out.

 

Angela

[Stephanie2]

I just received my 5 yo's pneum antibody titers as well and they were all "low", I guess would be the word. My son received all his pneumococcal vaccines (4 of them) before we stopped all vaccines. I am under the impression that if you had the vaccines and you did not create antibodies, that increases your chance of having IVIG covered. I think your chances increase if you then go and have the vaccine done again and you have your antibodies tested again to show that you did not mount a response. I don't really think that it has anything to do with having strep/pandas. It's just another way to show that your child's immune system is not operating properly, especially if he is not "immune deficient" by the insurance company's standards.

 

If your child did not get that vaccine to begin with, I assume that his antibodies came back low b/c he has not been exposed to it (either that or like you said, he has been exposed but his body did not create sufficient antibodies.

 

Someone correct me if I am wrong. I haven't gathered the paperwork and filed claim with the insurance company yet...

 

Stephanie

 

Or she hasn't been vaccinated and exposed to pneumococcal strains.... I have had this argument with the non-believers.

 

I tend to think you are correct and you should be able to secure IVIG as result. Some non-PANDAS Dr.s will want to revaccinate to prove deficiencies. Do not let them revaccinate (just my opinion).

 

My dd is 13 and has never had a pneumococcal vaccination. Dr. Bouboulis said she has a sinus infection, which is where strep. pneum. usually resides. Would it then make sense that she has pneumococcal strep in her sinuses but cannot mount a response to it, esp. where her white blood count is elevated?

 

Could the insurance companies argue that she doesn't have strep at all because of the low pneumococcal anitbody panel? I wish I had a medical background. This is so difficult to figure out.

 

Angela

Edited April 29, 2010 by Stephanie2

[sf_mom]

Angela,

 

It is unknown at this time if its a predisposition for if its the actual bacteria that causes the faulty response. I tend to believe the later due to our personal situation, five kids, not all genetically related, all exposed to ARF, all PANDAS. My friends son was deficient in pneumococcal's and was fighting an active infection for over eight months. We just happen to have labs from ARF phase and 1 1/2 years post. The titers went down instead of up and no one can legitimately explain why.

 

Anyway, your results will help secure proper treatment. It is a correctable situation and your DD is in good hands with Dr. B.

 

-Wendy

Edited April 29, 2010 by SF Mom