chronic mono

[jlynne8285]

I have tested positive for mono off and on for the last 5 years. More times positive than negative. However I have no antibodies to any known cause for mono. Any cause my dr. knows of. All she knows Is that I have the markers for having mono now, but no markers for having it in the past. ever. The test is some kind of blood test, not mono spot, I asked her if it could just be a false positive but she said with the test they use it isn't likely especially the number of times I was tested. She also tested me for ebv and the other common causes. they were negative, but I still have mono.

SO my question, What can be causing it and what can I do about it?

[mkh9]

Ok, thanks.
mkh9

[mkh9]

OK thanks. ARUP does do a PCR test for EBV and Human Herpes virus 4.  They also have Herpes virus type 6 A and B.  Apparently, they are now calling EVB Human Herpes virus type 4. EBV and CMV and HHV type 6. virues are all in the Herpes family.  Since you are not seroconverting for whatever reason maybe the PCR would show up either by PCR for EBV quantitative assay or HHV4 and 6 PCR. Maybe it would be worth checking these out.
mkh9

[jlynne8285]

my lymph nodes aren't  swollen and I can't remember them ever swelling.

[jlynne8285]

I will have to get another copy from my dr. Im not sure what the results mean . I copied them the way they were on the paper. I also tested negative for strep and flu.

[sukia]

did you get the EBV DNA via PCR test done?  If not, ask for it.  It's an expensive test but if that's positive, you unequivocally have an active EBV.

[mkh9]

Yes so the EBV is definitely negative if 0.9 is the cutoff for negative. I am not sure about your Complete blood count (CBC) results. Is that 10,600 neutrophils and then the count is 70.5% lymphocytes and 7.8% neutrophils? If so that is a very high percent of lymphocytes.  Usually, they have a certain percentage of each followed by a manual count of each. Do you have that information?  Because the 10.6 looks like you have 10,600 neutrophils which would indicate a bacterial infection like strep. But then the manual count doesn't match the percentage. So, if you have the whole thing it would make more sense to me. Yes your symptoms are like a recurrance of mono or chronic EBV. But I would like to see the full CBC.Are your lymph nodes swollen? If so where? CMV and Herpes certain types not Herpes simplex can cause similar symptoms Most people have been exposed to CMV so you would probably have antibodies for CMV IgG by now. So that wouldn't help much if they were positive.
But there is new evidence to suggest that some chronic fatigue syndrome may be caused by human Herpes virus type 6. It is not a Herpes Simplex virus. EBV, CMV and HHV-6 people may not be able to have a good enough immune system to produce the antibodies that show you have the serology. So that might me why your levels are negative. You can read the information below on the link if you want. It talks about getting genetic test for HHV-6 if you want to. But since your monoscreen has been coming up positive off and on and also our neutrophils seem to be up. It may be that you just haven't been able to produce a high enough immune response to convert the antibodies to positive. There is an EBV DNA test by Quest Diagnostics Lab it is a quantitative real time PCR test to look for active EBV in serum.  I"m not sure this would come up since you are not in the "acute' stage. You would have to ask your doctor about this and maybe getting treated with the antiviral below. I don't know if you are willing to undergo long term treatment with an antiviral unless you came up positive for HHV-6. But it does say low level infections of EBV too. You may want to discuss that with your doctor and the side effects etc. See link below.
Jose Montoya and Martin Lerner, have published previous studies suggesting that valganciclovir therapy may be effective for the subset of CFS patients suspected of having smoldering or low-level infections of HHV-6, EBV and CMV.  
http://hhv-6foundation.org/associated-conditions/hhv-6-and-chronic-fatigue-syndrome
take care, and let me know if you have any questions.
mkh9

[jlynne8285]

EBV(VCA) IGG /< or = 0.90

EBV(VCA) IGG /< or = 0.90

EBV(EBNA) IGG /< or = 0.90

EBV INTERP = no EBV antibody detected.

monoscreen positive

Neutrophils 10.6
lymphocyte 70.5
neutrophils # 7.8
A/G ratio 0.9
c-reactive protein 0.98

[mkh9]

Do you get swollen lymph nodes as well? Did they do Epstein Barr serology for: Viral Capsid antigen, IgG and IgM?
      Early antigen
      Nuclear antigen
The mono spot is not always positive. It is often negative.

If you have these results from your last blood draw I would be glad to take a look at them.

But it does sound like chronic EBV. Actually symptoms from Chronic EBV.
You might want to try boosting your immune system with  a shot of Gamma Globulin and a good healthy diet high in antioxidants. I recommend the whole plant based diet by Dr.John McDougall. You can read the Starch Solution if interested. There are others on this site that I have talked to that have suggested these two things. I know they give gamma globulin shots to those who have been exposed to Hepatitis to boost their immunity. So I think it could help if the doctor is willing to give to you. This is a start.
mkh9

[jlynne8285]

I am not sure what the test was, But I DO have the symptoms of mono except for a high fever. That is why they tested me the first time. I feel horrible for a month or more, then okay for a little while and then it comes back again. Always starts with a sore throat, pain all over, low grade fever, upset stomach and EXTREME fatigue. Like sleeping 18 to 20 hours a day.

[mkh9]

HI and sorry I was on vacation and just saw your post. I just wanted to ask so was it a genetic test that was positive for mono? Do you have symptoms of mono?
mkh9