Epstein Barr Nuclear AG AB IGG result of over 600

Posted by lsh @lsh, May 3, 2020

Hello, I am searching for information and also input because of my hideously high lab results for EBNA Nuclear AB IGG. My result was given as over 600. The range is less than 18 is negative. Over 22 is positive. To restate, my lab result is over 600.

I am 52. I did have mono at age 11. For at least four years I have complained on numerous times to my PCP of fatigue. We suspected thyroid but that has been treated and I still have suffered from bouts of fatigue, feeling like I was coming down with a bug, dizziness, etc for 3 or 4 days out of just about every month for the last eighteen months. I finally saw a naturopath who tested me for EBV.

I love my Naturopath, but I am wondering if I should be seeing a specialist because of this high lab result.
I am on a treatment plan of antiviral supplements, and immune supporting vitamins and supplements which she said will probably need to be taken for at least three months.

Has anyone else had numbers this high? I am having trouble finding much information on reactivated EBV.

Thank you!
Lisa

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Infectious Diseases Support Group.

Profile picture for joyfulyhis @joyfulyhis

This was supposed to say, “do you feel like you have recurring symptoms?

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yes continuous
s

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It may be a good sign that you have good immunity now for EBV. Mine is the same.

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Profile picture for tricia7 @tricia7

I have been going through very similar. My EBV numbers are the same as yours except my AB to VCA IGM are NOT normal. I’ve been so sick for so long. My doctor tells me the same thing. She doesn’t understand EBV and my numbers just run high. Let it go Take an antidepressant.
I did see Infectious Disease who said the same. Conventual Medicine has no idea what to do with people who have EBV.
It was a Functional Medicine provider who ran the test that diagnosed this. Functional Medicine doesn't accept health insurance and it gets expensive. I followed the treatment protocol she prescribed for a year and my numbers didn’t move. She prescribed Vit C infusions, Lauracidine, LDN and a round of Valttrex.
This horrible condition no longer allows me to work. I won’t be seeing Functional Medicine any longer due to finances. I have had to accept I have to live with this condition and just “rest”, in other words, no life.
I had Lyme disease in 2020 which is another misunderstood condition. Functional Medicine ran labs and I was still reactive on 2 bands for Lyme. My regular doctor said that means nothing. I understand how hard it is to live with this and wish you the best. I so wish it was taken more seriously.

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It’s absolutely awful. I’ve been reading a lot about MECFS, and that and so many other autoimmune issues, MS, EBV, they all have the same basic symptoms in common. I feel like it’s all caused by this virus, it just comes out in different ways in all of us. I am part of an Epstein-Barr group on Facebook and it seems like no matter what the protocols, nobody seems to be able to get their early antigen back to normal. Not only am I too sensitive for infusions and all of the supplements they want to throw at me, I can’t afford it either. So right now eating plant-based has helped me a bit, and I’ve actually been going to the gym except I keep kind of hitting a wall and I have to take breaks. I don’t do anything strenuous, I do some movements on the exercise ball and ride the recumbent bike for a little bit. I do take a regular amount of vitamin C, and my ferritin is low so I take iron. Plus being plant-based I have to take B12. I’m on a very low dose of an antidepressant, which is Lexapro and it does help with the anxiety. I take that along with a beta blocker and a benzo, very very small amounts of everything. I do that so I have some semblance of a normal life, without my medication I don’t know if I would leave the house. I’m so sorry that we are all going through this, it helps to know that we’re not alone.

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Profile picture for tshal3 @tshal3

My thyroid doctor is treating me. Many doctors don’t recognize it as an active virus that can do so much damage. Infectious Disease
Doctors should be a good source.

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I just came from Infectious Disease. Can you believe he told me that a positive IGM does not mean there was/is a recent/current activation and the tests are not reliable and are wrong?! Omg, Im just done.

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Repeat the test with a different lab and retest in 3 mo. No one knows why EBV markers are reactivated with COVID. We are all going through this together, including doctors.

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Profile picture for lisa191 @lisa191

Hello, I just found this post and am having similar issues. Also the same age as original poster. I am seeking advice, because I was in grad school 8 years ago when the school mandated a MMR booster and I got sick about 6 weeks later with a mono-like reaction which unfortunately has never gone away. I have been to PCP, rheum, and latest endocrinology. Get monitored every 3 months. So my latest results have the exact same EB >600; as an aside prior to the MMR my rubeola abs were over 300 which was also the ceiling for the test, normal value was 30 or under. Told me to just get it anyway.

Additionally, I have positive ANA, 'weak positive' sjogrens/lupus/RA antibodies and some fairly significant nucleolar patterns, plus the >300 measles and >600 EB. My main issues are joint pain, fatigue and muscle weakness. I need to sleep over 12 hours per day and can barely hold down a part time job which feels like a full time job. At first I was hoping I'd get better but after 8 years of basically feeling extremely tired I'm very discouraged. I hope the lisa who posted in 2020 and all the respondents are doing well. best wishes to all.

Lisa

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@lisa191
Literally have the exact same stuff going on! Positive Ana with a speckled pattern and really high EBV levels.
Did you ever get anything figured out??
Getting dismissed by every doctor I see and I'm getting very discouraged.
My primary symptom is extreme fatigue

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I believe the full panel should be considered to get a clear picture. I have had a reading of over 600 for my Epstein Barr Nuclear AG IgG for over 40 years. However, with that said I do have a chronic case and only recently after treatment from an Integrative Naturopath was I able to get some of my other numbers normal. My last test showed the following:
EBV Ab vca IgG = 26.1 High Previous test was 29.8, so that's a slight drop.
EBV early Antigen Ab IgG = < 9 Normal
EBV Capsit IgM Ab = 37.7 High but Normal is less < 36, so very close to normal! The previous test was < 36 so it had come up a bit.

She did not even test me for the Nuclear AG IgG because it never changes. The others do change and I have been battling this illness since I was in my early 30's. I'm now 72.

It's a miserable illness that Drs. do not understand and most do not know how to treat. My method to deal with it, is to get plenty of rest which I monitor, Eat a whole food diet as much as possible, and take tons of high quality supplements. Unfortunately, until I developed Endometrial Adenocarcinoma a year ago, I did not realize my body was so out of balance. After that I decided I needed help with the supplements and diet so I started seeing an Integrative Naturopath. After about 8 months on a new diet and new supplements, my numbers started to improve to what I listed above. I really was looking for a way to fight a cancer recurrence as well, and it's expensive but worth it. I finally see progress on the EBV titers, and I'm feeling better than I have in years as well as dropped 54 lbs. I do feel for you all as I am so very aware of what a battle this is.

I would recommend you find a Dr. if you don't already have one, that understands this virus and will partner with you to fight it. Not all Drs. even believe it is a problem, even though it can cause cancers also. Take care of yourself, it's a beast of a virus and doesn't give up easily. We just have to give it the least hospitable environment we can to keep it at bay.

Take care and God Bless,
Kathy

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Profile picture for kkathysan @kkathysan

I believe the full panel should be considered to get a clear picture. I have had a reading of over 600 for my Epstein Barr Nuclear AG IgG for over 40 years. However, with that said I do have a chronic case and only recently after treatment from an Integrative Naturopath was I able to get some of my other numbers normal. My last test showed the following:
EBV Ab vca IgG = 26.1 High Previous test was 29.8, so that's a slight drop.
EBV early Antigen Ab IgG = < 9 Normal
EBV Capsit IgM Ab = 37.7 High but Normal is less < 36, so very close to normal! The previous test was < 36 so it had come up a bit.

She did not even test me for the Nuclear AG IgG because it never changes. The others do change and I have been battling this illness since I was in my early 30's. I'm now 72.

It's a miserable illness that Drs. do not understand and most do not know how to treat. My method to deal with it, is to get plenty of rest which I monitor, Eat a whole food diet as much as possible, and take tons of high quality supplements. Unfortunately, until I developed Endometrial Adenocarcinoma a year ago, I did not realize my body was so out of balance. After that I decided I needed help with the supplements and diet so I started seeing an Integrative Naturopath. After about 8 months on a new diet and new supplements, my numbers started to improve to what I listed above. I really was looking for a way to fight a cancer recurrence as well, and it's expensive but worth it. I finally see progress on the EBV titers, and I'm feeling better than I have in years as well as dropped 54 lbs. I do feel for you all as I am so very aware of what a battle this is.

I would recommend you find a Dr. if you don't already have one, that understands this virus and will partner with you to fight it. Not all Drs. even believe it is a problem, even though it can cause cancers also. Take care of yourself, it's a beast of a virus and doesn't give up easily. We just have to give it the least hospitable environment we can to keep it at bay.

Take care and God Bless,
Kathy

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@kkathysan
I have yet to find a doctor that even listens . . .
Fighting all of the above and really appreciate everyone’s input. It is certainly a “learning experience.
Good luck to all on this journey,
Carol

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Profile picture for kkathysan @kkathysan

I believe the full panel should be considered to get a clear picture. I have had a reading of over 600 for my Epstein Barr Nuclear AG IgG for over 40 years. However, with that said I do have a chronic case and only recently after treatment from an Integrative Naturopath was I able to get some of my other numbers normal. My last test showed the following:
EBV Ab vca IgG = 26.1 High Previous test was 29.8, so that's a slight drop.
EBV early Antigen Ab IgG = < 9 Normal
EBV Capsit IgM Ab = 37.7 High but Normal is less < 36, so very close to normal! The previous test was < 36 so it had come up a bit.

She did not even test me for the Nuclear AG IgG because it never changes. The others do change and I have been battling this illness since I was in my early 30's. I'm now 72.

It's a miserable illness that Drs. do not understand and most do not know how to treat. My method to deal with it, is to get plenty of rest which I monitor, Eat a whole food diet as much as possible, and take tons of high quality supplements. Unfortunately, until I developed Endometrial Adenocarcinoma a year ago, I did not realize my body was so out of balance. After that I decided I needed help with the supplements and diet so I started seeing an Integrative Naturopath. After about 8 months on a new diet and new supplements, my numbers started to improve to what I listed above. I really was looking for a way to fight a cancer recurrence as well, and it's expensive but worth it. I finally see progress on the EBV titers, and I'm feeling better than I have in years as well as dropped 54 lbs. I do feel for you all as I am so very aware of what a battle this is.

I would recommend you find a Dr. if you don't already have one, that understands this virus and will partner with you to fight it. Not all Drs. even believe it is a problem, even though it can cause cancers also. Take care of yourself, it's a beast of a virus and doesn't give up easily. We just have to give it the least hospitable environment we can to keep it at bay.

Take care and God Bless,
Kathy

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@kkathysan

Thanks for your post. Its wonderful you've finally found this doctor to help with the EBV. I haven't been able to find any doctor to address it. Would you share their specialty,
name and location? Assuming this is functional medicine out of network?

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