CLINICIAN TESTIMONIALS
“I think that the CaMKinase is the most important assay and changes with the severity of disease, at least in my experience.”
Dr. Beth Latimer’s Testimonial
The Cunningham Panel™ is probably the most important lab. And it’s the only one that’s not covered by insurance.
Dr. Beth Latimer:
If I’m going to make a decision based upon the Cunningham Panel, then I’m going to want to follow it later on to see if it’s changed. I will do the Panel. If cost is no concern, and we want to monitor the Panel over time, then it’s not a problem. A lot of parents want to do it for that reason. And if cost is not a concern then it’s not a problem.
The insurance companies should be paying for this. It’s a CLIA certified lab. It’s ridiculous they don’t pay for it. All of the other labs that are order for this condition, 50% of them are completely unnecessary. This is probably the most important lab. And it’s the only one that’s not covered.
Generally, it’s the anti-Di, anti-D2, the Tubulin and the CaMKII. The antibodies can be there but the CaMKII goes up and down with the degree of disease. At least in my experience.
I find that most of the kids that have more movement disorders tend to have more anti-dopamine receptor antibodies. This is just my own personal experience. And the kids who are really severely OCD or depressed have high anti-Tubulin antibodies.
The parents may say, “The D1 is 32,000 but the Tubulin is only 4,000.” But that’s a really high Tubulin. In that case, you probably have all the problems.
I think that the CaMKinase is the most important [assay]. Because there are probably other antibodies that will be expanded upon (looking at serotonin antibodies against serotonin receptors). So, we might not even find an antibody. But if that CaMKII is 150 or above, you know you have a problem.