Knowing what's in your PID1

PID1 or PRIMARY IMMUNODEFICIENCY PANEL 1.  For those who may have multiple miscarriages, failed IVFs and unexplained infertility.  This kind of test is pretty familiar. 

This test will determine whether we have unwanted antibodies that prevents our bodies from conceiving.

The test is also known as Reproductive Immunophenotype in different countries.

Below is my recent PID1 result.

CD-3 (Pan T-Cells) – these cells composed mainly of our lymphocytes and determines whether our immune system is weak or healthy.  Those with whom the values shows higher than the normal may have experienced recurrent pregnancy losses or unexplained infertility.

CD-4 (T-Helper Cells) - these are called helper cells because CD-3 Pan T-cells cannot function without them.  As they provide direction to the immune response.  They have two types: Th1 – which helps determine attacks to the immune system, eg. viruses in an infected cell.  Th2 – which secretes cytokines and are relevant in creating immune response in removing the infected cells.

CD-8 (T-Cytotoxic-Suppressors) - these are the eliminators of infected and abnormal cells.  And occasionally show relevance on women with reproductive issues.

CD-19 (B Cells) - these cells matures into plasma, (the pale-yellow liquid component of blood that normally holds the blood cells in whole blood in suspension).  They frequently show elevated values with women with recurrent pregnancy losses or with immune cause for infertility.

CD 19+/5+ (B-1 Cells) 
- these cells are involved with autoimmune disorders, (a condition wherein the immune system mistakenly attacks a healthy body tissue).  Women with elevated results may be at risk for thyroiditis, (inflammation of thyroids) and premature menopause.

CD 56+ Natural Killer Cells – they can identify foreign and abnormal cells and eliminates them and often when the results are above normal values (12%-17%) it is associated with women’s failure to conceive.

Looking back at my results it was in CD19 and CD20 Cells that I fail.  I'm just making a wild guess that CD20 is similar to CD19+ as it is also called B-1 Cells.  Anyhow,  I'm praying that my immune issues could be addressed by LIT.  I don't want to consider IVIG just yet.  Maybe when I got pregnant and it'll help me get through with the nine month wait then why not.  

For more details on regarding Repro-Immune you may check on this link.

This is all for now

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LIT FOR LAT

This infertility has been staying for so long in my system I just can't wait to kick it out.  It was a few years back that my friend already warned me - "you may want to see an immunologist".  She had APAS and so on.  I have PCOS.  I told her that it might not be possible for me to have 2 dreadful diseases.  I stand by what I believe in I have PCOS and that's it.  I'll get pregnant in time.

I let the years pass by.  I enjoyed life to the fullest.  Then I noticed that "the time" that I/We've been waiting for was still nowhere in site.

We started the fertility work ups and still failed all attempts to get my baby bump.

Then here's the wake up call.  I can't be just PCOS and don't get pregnant.  I have a friend who has the same but got pregnant without medical intervention.

I told my husband I got to do all the immunological tests and see an immunologist.  ASAP.

Voila! As I suspected I got a negative LAT score.  I need LIT.

What is LAT?

Leukocyte Antibody Test (LAT) or Leukocyte Antibody Detection (LAD) in the US. It is an antibody wherein the woman's body creates an envelop of protection for the fetus to prevent the immune system from attacking it. Also as according to Infertility Philippines -

"The problem is when the woman shares the same antibodies with her partner; in other words the couple’s DNA is too similar.  Normally the father’s DNA in the embryo tells the mother’s body to set up a protective reaction around the baby.  But when this blocking effect does not happen, the baby is rejected."  

For more details you may check on this link.

And the treatment for this culprit is Lymphocyte Immunization Therapy (LIT)

I had mine done at MEL.  In the morning, 12 vials of blood will be extracted from the donor (my husband's my donor until the 3rd session).  Then we went back at around 1pm for the procedure.  Out of 12 vials.  3 small vials of white cells were extracted.

I've got high pain tolerance but this one's just different.

I hate the prick and the push of the white cells into my skin.  Dr. A told me that my husband's end product has a good quality.  A bandage will be wrapped around the area and should not be removed for 48 hours.  (Dr. A said that the area should remain dry and must not be exposed to sunlight).

here's what happened after I removed the bandage after 2 days

I've compiled the photos that day.  

  

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Time to manage

My birthday...
Chinese New Year...
Baptism cum 1 year birthday party of our lovely niece.

We have to juggle on the events while we face our journey.

When there are events, there will always be "the question" - "Are we expecting anything yet?" then what else can you say but "it's still on the process".

In between the busy events for the month.  We managed to see another Immunologist.  Dra. Abong.  She is so nice and actually very accommodating.  She saw all my immune tests at MEL.  And as for her opinion my NK Cells are A-OK! Quite contradictory to Dr. O's interpretation.

She then requested to have a re-tests of my ANA (Anti Nuclear Antibody) - of which my blood were drawn at MEL and sent at SLGC (she said that St. Luke's uses a different method - Immunofluorescence, and it is a better method than ELISA), KCT or SCT screening - this one's in MEL .  Other tests are for the thyroid panel. We spent P7500 for all the tests and the results are emailed to me in 2-3 days.

And here they are:

ANA (IF)

SCT SCREENING

THYROID PANEL

Yippeee!!!! I'm so cleared from all the tests.  Even my KCT's normal.  God is really good!  We went back to Dr. A and she told us that there is no other problem except for my LAT.  We'll be having LIT to treat it.   She orders for a blood screening for my husband (he'll be my donor for the first 3 sessions.  Then a retest for my LAT if it improves then my husband will still be my donor for the 4 session.  If not we'll find a donor.

This is it for now....

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Is it worth it?

Indeed Dr. O is a very expensive physician.  But in fairness to him he will give you a brief explanation of the immune conditions their treatments, but to sum it all he only believes in IVIG and not LIT. "IVIG supercedes all treatments." 

 And if anyone would ask how much does IVIG costs per session? it can range from 168k-196k (the amount will differ according to your weight, so it can either go up or down a little), he also doesn't use medicines outside (meaning he utilizes the medicines that are available in his office and at St. Luke's no more no less) and to top it all he said it's a minimum of 3 sessions. 

My husband and I went out of the clinic in awe.  First, the cost of IVIG, then with the list of tests that he wanted us to check. 

Curious to know what they are?  

Here's the list and the cost:

SLGC PATHOLOGY

While my husband is seated at the Pathology Center.  I phoned Tita Au of MEL.  She told me to drop by even if it is later than 5pm so she could see the tests.  After getting the total costs I was about to do Repro Immuno Panel 2 when I got the strange feeling of why should I be doing this when Dr. O said that IVIG supersedes all treatments even to LAT (which traditionally, is being treated with LIT - Lymphocyte Immunization Therapy).  Told the lady that I'll be back to take the tests.  

And so we went to MEL.  It's the second time meeting Tita Au.  But she's very nice and accommodating as ever.  I'm just happy to be able to talk to someone who'd be able to understand me/us with my/our situation.  This is not easy for me since all this time all I know is that I have PCOS and it's all I got.  But, that's what I know.  What I don't know before is that I have immunity problems and it may not be impossible to treat but the tedious of all.  

Tomorrow I shall see another doctor.  I hope she can give us a better game plan. 

This is all for now

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