Your results show that you have past infection not active. Just because your antibody level is high just means you have a good immunity to it. It doesn't mean you have reactivation. Did you have a IgM result too for the EA? or VCA? You have been negative with the HIV tests for over 4 months now. So really there is no reason to suspect you have HIV. You can take it at 6 months to finalize that. But if your immune system appears to be working quite well I wouldn't worry. When did you actually get mono for the first time? The lymph nodes take 4 months or so to go down if it was some what recent. But if not it could be due to a variety of things. Any time you have a infection of any kind such as a strep throat, ear infection or a number of other things your lymph nodes can swell. That is their purpose. Try not to worry.
mkh9
mkh9
How do those results show past infection not active, I don't understand.
This is what I was given as a rule of thumb
Test results most likely indicate the following:
VCA-IgM VCA-IgG EA-D, IgG EBNA, IgG Possible Interpretation
Negative Negative Negative Negative No infection, symptoms due to another cause, susceptible to EBV infection
Positive Positive Negative Negative Early, primary infection
Negative or positive Positive Positive Negative Active infection, though EA-D IgG may persist for life in about 20% of people
Negative Positive Negative Positive Past infection
Negative Positive Positive Positive May indicate reactivation of virus
Let me know if you are familiar with this virus, I am trying to learn because I was told I have Chronic Active EBV which I now understand is very rare and I am not sure if the results are right. I am going to see a doctor next week and I would appreciate any information that would help me understand the lab results.
Yes that is correct except the EA can be Positive in case #4 and doesn't have to be reactivation. What is EA-D? I haven't seen the D? is D for Delayed or something? I understand serology and am familiar with the virus. I don't see how you know if you have chronic active EBV. Actually new data suggests that people with Chronic fatigue syndrome may actually have human herpes type 6. Human herpes virus type 6 causes a lot of things so don't worry about that. EBV is actually in the Herpes family as is CMV and Herpes simplex. But people seem to be more comfortable calling their syndrome chronic EBV or Chronic fatigue syndrome.
So how do your results show past infection. IgM is the first antibody produced in infection then it goes down and IgG is produced and remains for life. You can be re-exposed to EBV and your antibody titer may rise (igG not igM) as it is protective. Your high values of IgG just mean you have been exposed to it in the past not an acute or current infection since IgM is not present. Also, with EBV testing it goes like this ; viral capsid antigen IgM appears early in infection and disappears after 4-6weeks. Anti VCA IgG Appears 2-4 weeks after infection and remains for life. Early antigen IgG acute phase is gone in 3-6 months but like you said 20% remain for life Nuclear antigen is not seen in early acute phase at all. It appears at 2-4 months and remains for life. Does this help?
mkh9
My other result was negative. I don't have my paperwork in front of me, but I know it was the IGM for either EA or VCA. The chart provided to me on my lab results stated that this indicated a reactivation. However, I never even knew I had mono in the past. I remember having "walking pneumonia" about two years ago that had me down for several weeks.
A lot of kids get mono and don't know they have it. You can sometimes think you have a cold or some virus and not know you have mono.
mkh9
Right. I'm not concerned about how I got originally. I'm just curious as to what could have reactivated it.
If you have reactivation, stress, getting too tired, a lot of things like that can do it.
mkh9
I have definitely been under EXTREME stress and anxiety. I guess the puzzling aspect is that the lymph nodes are small, painful and spread out all over my body in random places. However, different areas hurt more different days. It is almost as if it fluctuates.
I'm not sure why your lymph nodes are sore. But if they are not big it doesn't generally mean anything is wrong with them. They have to be a certain site to be clinically significant. Maybe it is really a fibromyalgia kind of thing? Or do you really think it is lymph nodes? As in specific spots. I was just wonder if it is trigge points instead of lymph nodes.
mkh9
I meant trigger points.
mkh9
I can definitely feel small round "knots" at each place that is painful. They are different sizes depending on where they are. I have them at and around my elbows, one on my knock, on the underside of my bicep, sometimes under my arm, on my thighs, and behind my knees mostly. I also can feel some on my upper abdomen sometimes. None of them are extremely large. However, I am very confident that they are definitely lymph nodes. Also, the pain isn't a soreness, it's more of a burning/sharp pain in each area. It's very hard to describe because I have never experienced anything like it before. I'm going on my 9th week of having the symptoms now. I'm so frustrated and afraid.
My GP has me coming in for my 6 month HIV test at the end of this month. She said that I basically have a 1% chance of my symptoms being HIV related, but that's what I am most afraid of having. However, if the 6 month HIV test is negative, she is referring me to an Infectious Disease specialist.
I really think she is exaggerating the HIV thing. How is your CD4 count? I guess it can't hurt to see an infectious disease specialist. It would be interesting to see if they can think of anything. Let me know.
mkh9
Is the CD4 something you would have to ask for separately? I've had a CBC with differential, test for rheumatoid markers, and urine analysis for different proteins and such. I don't think I have had a test to show my CD4 count. I guess maybe the ID specialist will test me for that? She didn't seem convinced that it is HIV, but she didn't completely rule it out, either.
Yes if the Infectious Disease specialist wants to know if your immune system is low he/she can check your CD4 count. It would be very low if you had HIV and some other problems. It is a separate test they don't normally take unless they suspect HIV or something that affects your immune system. So the other doctor much not be worried about it.
mkh9
Ok, that's good to know. Thanks for the information. I will let you know how it turns out.
So boss,how did it turn out? I mean did u test again?
I think you may be referring to completellyanxieous. Haven't heard back from that person yet. I'm not getting tested.
mkh9
Hey, I went in yesterday for my 6 month HIV test and had a PCR RNA test. Waiting for the results now. I have an appointment with an ID specialist on the tenth of this month.
6 month PCR RNA for HIV was negative. Now, on to other options.
Great news. So you shouldn't have to worry about that.
mkh9