Circulating Immune Complexes

[lynn]

In my dd's case, an immune deficiency to strep was at play and was likely the reason that antibiotics seemed to stop working. Antibiotics alone cannot irradicate a strep infection if your immune system can't help them. I think a lot of these kids have active infections that antibiotics alone can't wipe out because of immune deficiency. Have you done a pneumococcal antibody panel and checked C3d (circulating immune complexes)levels? If elevated it indicates an autoimmune process going on.Hope that helps some.

angela

 

Angela, when you say that if C3d is elevated that an autoimmune process is going on, forgive the possible utter stupidity of this question, but what does that mean? My conceptual problem is that DS has low s. pneumonae antibodies (13 out of 14 non-existant)but yet high C3d which sounds contradictory under this explanation. Is he therefore both immune deficient and producing twisted antibodies at the same time?

[momaine]

 

Angela, when you say that if C3d is elevated that an autoimmune process is going on, forgive the possible utter stupidity of this question, but what does that mean? My conceptual problem is that DS has low s. pneumonae antibodies (13 out of 14 non-existant)but yet high C3d which sounds contradictory under this explanation. Is he therefore both immune deficient and producing twisted antibodies at the same time?

 

Dr. B told me the failed pneumococcal antibody panel indicated an immune deficiency. I believe he also said that antibiotics alone cannot fight strep in kids with immune deficiency.

 

I googled C3d and found that it is elevated in Lupus and other autoimmune illnesses. All I remember hearing from Dr. B about it was the it indicates an autoimmune process going on and would help to get ivig covereage with our insurance company.

 

My dd had low aso and antidnase titers but they have fallen further since beginning antibiotics. I don't really understand the correlation betwteen aso, antidnase, pneumococcal titers, and autoimmune illness. wish I could help more. Maybe someone else know. maybe no one really understand this yet???

 

Angela