Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Immunology Results - sort-of

Received a call today with partial good news! Immunology believes that "overall tests are re-assurring" and Abram does not have an immune deficiency disorder that started at birth. It's all very confusing with what tests they have done, a total of 4 to tests Mitogens, Antigens, Natural Killer cells, and IGG. The tests show that Abram's mitogen function is good, these help to fight viral infections. The antigens did not replicate or respond in the study, but neither did the control sample so they are summing this up to be a "bad study" and basically throw out the results. The IGG was extremely elevated (tests check to see how well Abe's cells respond to tetanus, canida, etc., etc.) but expect this to be due to the immunoglobin he was given in the hospital (someone else's IGG could be spiking the numbers). And finally, the Natural Killer cell test was inconclusive because the person who could run this study was on vacation!!! (all tests were sent across the country, outside of Children's Mercy, this particular one to Nashville.)
So, needless to say Abram will need to give more blood in a couple weeks to re-do two of these tests. The IGG cannot be tested for about a year due to the donor immunoglobin in his system. What do these tests (inconclusive) mean for us? No rotavirus immunizations, no contact with people who have colds/flus/viruses/illnesses, etc., and wearing a mask at the doctor office. The doctor did not think that Abe's MRSA on his bottom was due to low neutrophils/immunity problems, but secondary (likely from the hospital) and still believes the enterovirus that was diagnosed, and the working theory of Abram's heart problem, could be driving his neutrohils to be low.

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