HERPES

IgM Antibodies vs IgG Antibodies

Dear Dr. Tom:

Hi I have been tested of HSV1 and 2 and
the results are IGG type 1 Negative and IGG type 2 Negative. But My
IGM type 1 Positive IGM type 2 Positive. Can you translate the result
for me??? Where did I get the virus???

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Dr. Tom’s Response:

Dear Anonymous Immunoglobulin Questioner:

Immunoglobulins (Ig or IG) function within
the bloodstream (there are at least three immune types, sometimes more).
Immunoglobulins provide the protective proteins called antibodies.
When an infectious microbe gets into the body, the host’s antibodies
(or immunoglobulins) go to work to protect the host. This is the 1st
pass to try to curtail an infection. The earliest protective antibody
proteins (globulins) tend to respond with a specific type of immunoglobulin
named type G. Hence, the first protective immunity tends to respond
by the IgG. In other words the earliest protective antibodies (IgG)
are acting quickly against the infection. Later, the IgG response will
decline, and then another Ig immunoglobulin calls IgM or type M, and
this later response by the body protects the host for the later and
higher levels of the antibodies type M.

Back to cases. Your results suggest that
neither HSV1 and HSV2 no longer give this level of immunity from you.
However, you have IgM antibodies against both viruses. This cannot
tell why, but the results suggest that you had an old infection which
has subsided from the IgG antibodies, but the IgM antibodies are still
there tending to protect the immune system. In other words, the IgG
phase has passed and you’re in the IgM phase.

There’s always the possibility that some
cross reactivity from an antigen (similar as an identity chemical of
one of the HSV1 or HSV2) may have elicited a response from your immune
system. These are called partial antigens and your immunoglobulins
could have possible responded to another (different but similar) virus.
This is totally speculative but could explain if you have never acquired
either of these viruses. Also, there are persons who have acquired
HSV and never became aware.

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