LAT

All the while, I thought LAT is the acryonym for leukocyte antibody test. Quite obvious from my interpretation- it measures the leukocyte antibody. I got confused why I need a high LAT score. Why should I have LIT Lymphocyte immunization therapy? What is the desired blood product? This was my lousy question to the immunologist before. To me, LIT is insanity!

1. HLA stands for human leukocyte antigen. The surface of our white blood cell is coated with HLA. It is a unique sequence.
2. The fetus is combination of HLA from father and mother. For discussion purpose, I say a fetus may inherit 50% HLA from the father.
3. If I have my LIT, I will develop HLA antibody (blocking antibody) to my husband's HLA.
4. Once programmed, my immune system will not target the fetus because it resembles 50% HLA from the father.

Doctor said we want to create anti-idiotypic antibody (anti-blocking antibody). Omg! I don't fully understand up to now. Anyway, I have done my initiation rites. I am now a bonafide member of his cult. Follow the supreme leader. Amen!

I just found out on the web. LAT-M IgG is Lambda Antigen Tray. Uhmmm... This measures the anti-leukocyte antibody or leukocyte antibody? I need more time to comprehend. http://www.onelambda.com/Source/pdffiles/productinserts/lat_pi_EN.pdf

Of initiation rites

Lately, I feel like I am a new  member of a cult. These injections is part my initiation rites of our cult. My immunologist is the supreme leader. If the Supreme Leader said I should have LIT, I will be rewarded with a baby. I should blindly follow. I don't know exactly why do I need LIT, and what is the mechanism of LIT. Spiritual healer? Shhhhh.... Just kidding. I saw from the web that he won the young scientist award in 1996 for medicine (transplant immunology).

These LIT marks are also disgusting. My nephew does not want to sleepover our house because of the fear of being bitten by giant mosquitoes. I was once showed the traffic enforcer my LIT marks- no more apprehension. This is the perk of becoming a bonafide member to his cult.

My second LIT- reaction and interpretation

The induration of my second LIT is bigger than the first. I doubted the efficacy of my LIT. But my doctor guessed that I may have been exposed to virus, but it was fended off. Oh no, his NK cell explanation again. I don't believe my NK cell is very active. The subcutaneous blood leak was not a by product of immunology. The technician had hit my capillary during the injection. 

If I injected my own lymphocyte, I guess there will be little or no reaction at all. The fact, that I have developed a reaction against my husband's lymphocyte, means my immune system is functioning. I am capable of producing blocking antibodies against my husband. This is also a proof that we have unrelated blood lines.

Few months ago, this was my argument: If I fail in LAD (leukocyte antibody detection), it does not mean that I have immunologic problem. Some people can get pregnant despite of having zero PRA (panel reactive antibody). Reactive antibody will be naturally produced after I get pregnant. Question: Should I continue my LIT?

My doctor has graded each columns on my forearms 2.5, 3, 3.5. He said it seems that I have developed tolerance against my husband's lymphocyte- this is a good news! The induration from my husband's lymphocyte was small compared to the rest. I will have my LAD test again next month to see my progress.

What should be the ideal reaction? In the first LIT, I should develop pustules. More pustules means strong reaction. That also means that I am strongly capable of stimulating my immune cells. First LIT, triggers the production of anti-HLA. We need to produce as many anti-HLA as we can. In the second stage, my immune system will produce anti-anti-HLA (anti-idiotypic antibody). My intellect and imaginations are limited. Immunology is still a fiction to me!

In my second LIT, I did not develop pustules. If there was, it was very small. I have developed tolerance. According to him my second LIT was better, although the indurations (from new donors) were bigger. 

During the first 24 hours after LIT, B-cells are responsible for the immediate hypersensitivity reactions. Then after that my T-cells are responsible for the delayed cytotoxic hypersensitivity reaction. Ai...

Elevator topic: what is LIT?

We live in a condominum. For 20 months, my elevator talk topic was always about pregnancy and vacation. My neighbors suggestions: We should relax and take a long vacation. We should go to temple in Putuoshan. We should go to Obando and do the fertility dance. We should go to a temple in Tokyo.

Nowadays, my elevator challenge is to explain "What is LIT? and Why do i need LIT?" in 30 seconds. These injections are part of my fertility work up. I have immune problem.Why and how? Please explain further in 10 seconds. I just simply explain that I have high antibody producing cell, I have anti-sperm antibody. Period. Thank God! Elevator time busted!  But, my neighbor extended the chit chat at the lobby for 1 more minute. Ai... If I have anti-sperm antibody, why do i need more antibody? Yes, I needed to produce antibody from donors in order to counter my abnormally high B-cell.  Aiii... help!

Yeah! Try the traditional medicine: herbal and acupuncture. It is tried and tested. Alternative medicine has been around for several hundred years.

The other day, I explained my natural killer cell count is high. It kills everything foreign including my husband's sperm. I also have anti-sperm antibody because of that. Wait! Nk cell has nothing to do with anti-sperm antibody. Shhh... Ooops... I always argue that my NK cell count is not high. Why am I telling my neighbors that my NK cell count is high?

What? What is NK cell? Natural Killer Cell. What is it? Why do I know I have high natural killer cell count? Do I look like a KILLER? (^.^)

Yes. Immunology is a fiction. It seems nobody believes much in it.

My second LIT

Ouch! Ouch !  Poor me, what will my immunologist say? Should my forearm be swelling and painful or not? If I do not develop swelling and itch this means I don't develop blocking antibody? If I had intense swelling, omg very active T cells?

I hope my effort and suffering are not all in vain.

My LIT journey and pregnancy

One month wait  seems to be forever. I don't know whether my giant mosquito ( LIT ) has positive effect on my immune system. The only tangible evidence is the scars.

My first LIT result was bad. I had delayed cytotoxic hypersensitivity reaction. I am starting to lose my enthusiasm on LIT. I want to get this over. When can I retest my immunologic profile?

I am having my immune system fixed before undergoing my IVF. In this way, I will be spared from tears and heartaches. Ooops... Or it is the other way around? More devastation and more heartaches if my IVF failed?

Either ways, pregnancy is not under our control. It is the gift of life. Do I deserve the grace?

I stumbled on this webpage today. My new inspiration :  http://lisabttc.com/2013/12/04/guest-blog-dr-kwak-kim-success-story-and-advocate/#comments  I hope this story serves as my inspiration.

DQ alpha and fertility- funny perspective.

During my high school days, we have a dog named Snoopy. She went crazy after her menarche (first menstruation). We sent her to a friend's house. Voila! She got pregnant after her few days vacation! We never sent her to veterinarian for a pregnancy check up. Before we decided to do so, she had already labored on her own. Brilliant!

Poor me! I was defeated by a dog.

We sent away most of her puppies. We just kept a male puppy- named Scooby and another female puppy. Scooby was Snoopy's son, and later on it became her sexual partner. Snoopy got pregnant several times. Btw, What is the DQ alpha match for a son and mother? Half genetic resemblance? No Dq alpha issue!

Why the "blocking antibody" and "anti-blocking antibody" did not come into that scenario? Paging my dear immunologist, where are you? Leukocyte antibody, Panel reactive Antibody= 0% does not mean zero chance of pregnancy, correct? HLA- h for human not dogs. Wait... What about this scenario: a father raped her daughter?
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Man-raped-daughter-for-11-years-fathered-a-child/articleshow/26487659.cms

Applying my immunologist belief, I should not use Chinese donor because our blood lines are very close. Genetic similarity issue. The father raped daughter case is an example of same blood line. Can this case refute my immunologist on the "blocking antibody" issue?

Now, ask me again to believe in immunology. Haha... Whatever! I will give immunology a try. I don't want to regret of being stubborn in the future. 10 days to go for the next LIT. Hope immunology is really the answer to my unexplained infertility. Grrr... Is it purely a male factor?

http://haveababy.com/fertility-information/ivf-authority/dq-alpha-matching-in-ivf-controversy
http://www.inciid.org/forum/showthread.php?t=42327

http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/14/12/2974.full.pdf

My yoga intention

My inner voice is asking me to do yoga. I tried Bikram yoga last Sunday. I want to lose weight. My target weight is 61kg. My target is easily attainable. I just want to try 10 heated yoga session and see its effect on my blood sugar. I have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). My blood sugar is at borderline and my cholesterol is high. I wish to drop my dosage of metformin to 1 tablet a day.

What a coincidence, I knew the instructor. I hope I will be motivated to exercise more. I felt drained and uncomfortable ear pressure after the exercise. My shirt was heavily soaked with sweat. I will endure this hardship. Looking forward to my next yoga session.

my upcoming LIT- where are my donors?

I look forward for my second LIT- 12 days from now. No blood donors yet. It is not allowed to use repeat donors. My immunologist does not want Chinese blood donors for me because I am a Chinese. He complains majority of the Chinese here in the Philippines are from Fujian. He said prior to migrating to Philippines our forefathers were living in Fujian for several hundred years. Our blood lines are related. OMG! My friends are mostly Chinese. I will not produce blocking antibody to chinese blood. Ei... how about 1/2 chinese and 1/4 chinese (pedigree)? My doctor does not allow blood from blood banks. >.<

Why are many people are afraid of syringe? Why my staffs are afraid to donate blood? I don't want to be blamed for their untoward incidents also. If you are anemic in the past, it does not mean you will be anemic forever. Religious beliefs... excused! What else? I respect their beliefs.

Has anyone heard of hematochromatosis? It is a hereditary defect of excessive iron in the blood stream. It is fatal- it may affect liver , etc... A friend told me that his brother was comatose in Canada because of hematochromatosis. My friend also have this condition. He and his teenage sons need to donate blood every 3 months to avoid iron accumulation.

I believe new blood cells will regenerated after we get rid of our old blood. Is blood letting good or bad? All they need is just to donate 70 ml. It is just like an annual routine blood test. As opposed to blood letting in blood bank= 500 ml. Ai!