Description
The CD57+ cells document the extent of the immune suppression of chronic Lyme disease. Based on the current literature, CD57+ cells are a prognostic laboratory parameter during and after the treatment of chronic Lyme disease.
CD57-Natural Killer-cells
(Heparin + EDTA tube)
Clinical research studies and case studies have shown that chronic Lyme infections are often accompanied by changes in the cellular immune defence. Evidence for this is a decreased number of Natural Killer cells (NK/CD3-CD56+), but particularly a decreased absolute number of activated NK cells (CD3-CD56+CD57+). While acute Borrelia burgdorferi infections and other diseases show normal CD57-parameters, chronic Lyme patients often have less than 100 CD57-cells/µl.
According to scientific studies, a suppressed absolute number of CD57-cells has been mainly observed in patients whose nervous system has been affected rather than in patients whose tissue or skeletal system has been affected. The decrease in CD57 cells persists until improvements in symptoms are achieved through antibiotics and other treatments. In reverse, a decreased CD57 parameter is seen as a measurable signal for an active chronic Borrelia infection and can be a possible indicator for a successful therapy.
