NK cells testing

[karen2009]

Hi everyone - first time here so i hope im on the right forum
i have a long history of mc-dd is now 7 and conceived and carried her with no probs. started trying for #2 dec 05. since then have had the following;-
mc 5 weeks
mc 9wks (blighted ovum)
mc 5 weeks
mc 11 weeks (hb ok @ 8 then non at 11)
ectopic (lost Left tube)
mc 23 wks
ectopic (treated with mtx)

have had loads of tests and been over to st marys to see raj rai - all ok. am on high dose folic acid and took prog. in last 2 pgs. major plan in place for next (fingers crossed) pg including prog, clexane, weekly scans and swabs and poss a stitch at 14wks!!

am wondering tho about nk testing - have a great cons who im pretty sure will refer me if i want but am a bit confused about where to go??? i know dr shehata tests but i also read that st marys will now rpescribe steroids without testing? and then theres liverpool!! can anyone shed any light? willbe speaking to cons on monday and want to be prepared!!!!

thanks
x

hi karen welcome to mn

i have not had the nk tests but am thinking of it.

as far as im aware st marys offer the steroids even though they dont really hold with the idea of nk cells.

afaik liverpool are only offering a trial atm. its a double blind trial so you may get the steroids or you may get a placebo. they are not taking any self funded nk tests.

like i said im not 100% sure of my facts and there will be someone who knows more along soon im sure.

all the best

xx

hi there
i've had NK cell testing and will go on steroids next time i get pregnant. i have done this through the Lister hospital where the consultant to see is Yau Thum. It costs a lot for the tests (i'm not sure exactly how much as we had every test under the sun done at the same time, but think it's about £800) and it takes five weeks to get the results. The steroid prescription is only about £40 a week though I think.
My history is one DS, now 2.5 yrs, and four miscarriages since him, all around the seven, eight, nine week mark. Nobody can find what's wrong with me, except elevated NK Cells which may or may not be the problem, depending who you believe.
I have also been to St Mary's where I saw a Mr Raul who was really rude about NK cell theory - said it was "complete nonsense." I was v unimpressed by his attidude (he's entitled to his expert opinion of course, and I did ask, but there might have been more tactful ways of conveying it to a patient who was clearly going down that route for want of any other options!)
So pretty sure he wouldn't be prescribing steroids, but perhaps other consultants there would be more open minded.
Who knows if it will work but in my case i have nothing else in conventional medicine to turn to.

thanks - its all so frustrating- what the bloody 'experts' fail to take into account is the fact that after a few or more mc you will try anything!

Hi

The miscarriage clinic in London does NK testing. I was quoted £200 for immune system testing which it falls under but that probably doesn't take into account the the cost of consultations etc. It all adds up. It was also just an e-mail enquiry with a one sentance reply so don't take this as gospel.

Hannah

Hi Karen,

I was diagnosed with elevated NK cells by Dr Shehata and prescribed steroids for the first 12 weeks of my pregnancy. I am now 22 weeks! And keeping everything crossed that this is it. I previously only ever got to 6/7 weeks before (although I had mmcs) so I am a big believer it works.

I get quite angry with docs who just dismiss NK Cells. I completely believe they were what caused my mcs. Also, I know someone who had five mcs was diagnosed with high NK cells and now (after treatment) is two weeks away from her due date. Not to mention the woman who was recently in the news who had 18 miscarriages and then was successfully treated by Dr Shehata for NK cells and now has a baby...

I would definitely get tested for them if you think it might be a cause. I'm not sure how much the individual test was, but I got tested for everything including chromosomes and that all came in about £1000 - I'd imagine just NK cells would be around £200...

good luck xxx