Anyone Able To Translate In Layman's Terms

[rubytuesday]

So I've received batch of lab testing done at the Cancer Center by allergist/pulmonologist/immunologist specialist. In the date for my immunophenotyping, the pathologist documents that 'with a CD4-CD8 ratio of 3.6 and 11% are NK cells (positive for CD56 and/or CD16 and negative for CD3)'. Does this sound like I am going to be needing bone marrow bx/asp and/or some scans to you, or am I over-reading this? Thanks for any input.

[delphicdragon]

Hope this helps.

The CD demarcation is how scientists define each on of these cells and it's based on proteins expressed on the surface of the cell. Think that CD stands for Cellular definition. These are characteristics scientists use to define these cells.

CD4 and CD8 are different types of T-cells. CD4 cells and CD8 cells are both types of lymphocytes, ie white blood cells. CD4 cells are helper cells - they are the ones who start the immune response. CD8 cells end the immune response. CD8 cells are also sometimes responsible for killing infected cells.

The ratio of CD4 cells to CD8 cells is simply calculated by dividing one by the other. Usually this value is between 0.9 and 3.7, so that looks normal to me (but I'd check to see if it's within the normal values the lab provides)

An NK cells is a natural killer cell. Again this is defined by the CD markers. A natural killer cell shows CD56 and/or CD16 on it's cell surface and does NOT show CD3. I think that percentage is normal too.

Good luck with this!

Sara

[rubytuesday]

Thank you so much for explaining this to me, Sara. You made it much easier to understand.