What does a high CD57 count mean?

It is generally believed that the lower the amount of CD57 natural killer cells in the body, the more chronic or progressive Lyme disease is, and the higher the amount, the closer a person is to remission.

What is a normal CD57 count?

The standard normal range for the absolute CD57 NK count is 60 to 360 cells per microliter of blood. This wide range was established based upon test results of hundreds of healthy patients.

What are CD 57 cells?

CD57 is a Marker of NK Cell Differentiation CD57 was subsequently identified on CD8+ T cells (5–7) as well as cells of neural crest origin (1, 8–13). Indeed, it was the neuroscience community that ultimately defined CD57 as a terminally sulfated carbohydrate epitope (glucuronic acid 3-sulfate) (14–16).

What does it mean to have low CD57?

Test interpretation: Low CD-57 occurs in chronic Lyme or when the disease has been active for over 1 year. The count reflects the degree of infection. It is not a diagnostic test but is used as a marker for Lyme being active. >200 is normal. < 20 severe illness.

Is CD57 a cell?

What causes low CD8 count?

CD8+ T-cell deficiency is a feature of many chronic autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome, systemic sclerosis, dermatomyositis, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis.

What are the CD57 test results really telling us?

It is important to remember that the CD57 test results are just an indicator. The improvement of the patient’s clinical status (ie: “treat the patient, not the tests!”) is more important. We don’t know what other factors may lower or raise the CD57 test.

How accurate are CD57+ NK cells in chronic Lyme disease?

Then, Dr. Stricker and Dr. Winger discovered that CD57+ NK cells in chronic Lyme patients tend to increase as the patient improve. Though the accuracy of the test decreased as the patient improves, it can help follow the treatment progress.

What is the normal range for CD57 NK count?

The standard normal range for the absolute CD57 NK count is 60 to 360 cells per microliter of blood. This wide range was established based upon test results of hundreds of healthy patients. By these laboratory standards, a test result below 60 cells per microliter would be considered below normal and therefore associated with chronic Lyme disease.