- Messages
- 17
- Location
- Southeast Pennsylvania, US
Hi, All. I'm sorry if this is a duplicate (many times!) thread, but I've searched the forum and can't find a discussion that simply explains EBV results and what they might mean for intervention. Someone else posted her partial results last week, but there weren't many responses.
I've been sick for 6 1/2 years - acute onset after a flu-like virus (had a very bad case of mono 15 years earlier). About 5 months after getting sick (April, 2007), my PCP tested me for EBV - the results were: EBV CAPSID Ab IgG - > 5.0 (anything over 1.9 indicates the IgG antibody was detected), EBV CAPSID Ab IgM - 1.21 (anything over 1.09 indicates the IgM antibody was detected), and EBNA Ag Ab >5.0 (anything over 1.10 indicates EBV EBNA antibody was detected). Four months later,the results were EBV CAPSID Ab IgM = 1.30 and EBV EA Ag = 1.69 (both were read as "positive").Doc diagnosed me with ME/CFS, but was unable to offer anything in terms of treatment.
In the intervening years, in my search for a treatment, I've had a zillion tests for everything from lyme to a mitochondrial disease, CMV and a cardiac disorder, and everything's come back negative. "You're fine."
The only aberration ever in my bloodwork was the EBV titres, so last week, I went to the PCP and asked to have the EBV blood tests repeated. The results this time were: EBNA Ab/IgG - >8.0 (anything over 0.9 = positive), EBV CAPSID Ag.Ab IgG >8.0 (anything over 0.9 = positive), EBV Early Ag.Ab - 0.2 (anything under 0.9 = negative), and EBV CAPSID Ag.Ab IgM - 0.2 (again, under 0.9 = negative). The doctor's interpretation was, "You don't have a reactivation of the virus." FWIW, I have not been feeling at my worst of late, but I still don't feel well at all.
A couple of questions: 1) Which of the above tests indicates "reactivation"? 2) What, exactly, does "reactivation" mean? A brand new infection? A full-blown flare-up of a chronic infection? 3) Does no reactivation mean that the EBV results are totally irrelevant? That is, most everyone has the antibody so the high titres don't mean anything? or 4) Could I still have a chronic, latent infection that's causing the symptoms and that perhaps could be treated?
I do understand there's controversy about the role of viral infections in ME/CFS, but honestly I have nothing else to go on. Have been reading about the possibility of the disease being an autoinflammatory disorder, with the symptoms being caused by an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, and would like to either treat the cause (EBV?) or better manage the symptoms (anti-flammatories like LDN). But I don't understand these results well enough to advocate for clinical next steps.
Can anyone offer a primer? Thanks in advance.
I've been sick for 6 1/2 years - acute onset after a flu-like virus (had a very bad case of mono 15 years earlier). About 5 months after getting sick (April, 2007), my PCP tested me for EBV - the results were: EBV CAPSID Ab IgG - > 5.0 (anything over 1.9 indicates the IgG antibody was detected), EBV CAPSID Ab IgM - 1.21 (anything over 1.09 indicates the IgM antibody was detected), and EBNA Ag Ab >5.0 (anything over 1.10 indicates EBV EBNA antibody was detected). Four months later,the results were EBV CAPSID Ab IgM = 1.30 and EBV EA Ag = 1.69 (both were read as "positive").Doc diagnosed me with ME/CFS, but was unable to offer anything in terms of treatment.
In the intervening years, in my search for a treatment, I've had a zillion tests for everything from lyme to a mitochondrial disease, CMV and a cardiac disorder, and everything's come back negative. "You're fine."
The only aberration ever in my bloodwork was the EBV titres, so last week, I went to the PCP and asked to have the EBV blood tests repeated. The results this time were: EBNA Ab/IgG - >8.0 (anything over 0.9 = positive), EBV CAPSID Ag.Ab IgG >8.0 (anything over 0.9 = positive), EBV Early Ag.Ab - 0.2 (anything under 0.9 = negative), and EBV CAPSID Ag.Ab IgM - 0.2 (again, under 0.9 = negative). The doctor's interpretation was, "You don't have a reactivation of the virus." FWIW, I have not been feeling at my worst of late, but I still don't feel well at all.
A couple of questions: 1) Which of the above tests indicates "reactivation"? 2) What, exactly, does "reactivation" mean? A brand new infection? A full-blown flare-up of a chronic infection? 3) Does no reactivation mean that the EBV results are totally irrelevant? That is, most everyone has the antibody so the high titres don't mean anything? or 4) Could I still have a chronic, latent infection that's causing the symptoms and that perhaps could be treated?
I do understand there's controversy about the role of viral infections in ME/CFS, but honestly I have nothing else to go on. Have been reading about the possibility of the disease being an autoinflammatory disorder, with the symptoms being caused by an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, and would like to either treat the cause (EBV?) or better manage the symptoms (anti-flammatories like LDN). But I don't understand these results well enough to advocate for clinical next steps.
Can anyone offer a primer? Thanks in advance.