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Checked For Lyme Disease Using Western Blot. All Bands Negative Except #41 Igg Positive? What Does This Indicate?
Question: checked for lyme disease using western blot. all bands were negative except band #41 igg positive? what would cause that? i have read that there are many different controversies regarding this band. Is it lyme disease or something else or nothing. symptoms chest pains joint pains and left side numbness especially on left check and head
how long does it take for a response
how long does it take for a response
Brief Answer:
Western blot report appears non specific
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your query. As you have rightly said #41 IgG band is non specific for lymes disease. Western blot tests for antibodies against the microorganism. The purpose of antibodies is to protect us against invading pathogens. Hence normal individuals as well as individuals who have in past been infected by other pathogen can have antibodies which can cross react leading to a single band being positive. Therefore single 41 IgG band should not be given much weightage. Your clinical symptoms would be more important. If there is no history of tick bite or skin rash i would not suggest treating for lymes. You need to consult a rheumatologist who needs to review your history as well as do a physical examination and then further workup for other causes of joint pain needs to be done. You could be having fibromyalgia in which there will be no evidence of joint inflammation on examination or other arthritic illness in which some objective abnormailities can be detected, Regards
Western blot report appears non specific
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your query. As you have rightly said #41 IgG band is non specific for lymes disease. Western blot tests for antibodies against the microorganism. The purpose of antibodies is to protect us against invading pathogens. Hence normal individuals as well as individuals who have in past been infected by other pathogen can have antibodies which can cross react leading to a single band being positive. Therefore single 41 IgG band should not be given much weightage. Your clinical symptoms would be more important. If there is no history of tick bite or skin rash i would not suggest treating for lymes. You need to consult a rheumatologist who needs to review your history as well as do a physical examination and then further workup for other causes of joint pain needs to be done. You could be having fibromyalgia in which there will be no evidence of joint inflammation on examination or other arthritic illness in which some objective abnormailities can be detected, Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
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