Does anyone know anything about the test where they remove some blood, tag the white cells with some marker, reinject it and then scan you? The white cells gather in the intestines if you have inflammation?
I plan to ask about this but curious that I don't read much about it and no doctor has suggested it?
One reason I am curious is because I have had a decreased neutrophil (a type of white cell) count since the 1970's, interestingly starting after a bad virus followed by low grade temp and D for months. (I count this as the start of my problems, with a long remission beween the early 70's and the late 90') My WBC has gotten as low as 2.2 with a neutrophil count of 1,000. It has been worked up 3 times over this time span. Last bone marrow exam normal.
I got all excited when I saw my WBC going up on humira but turns out my neutrophil count has remained the same, its my lymphs (another type of white cell) that have increased, which increased the total count. I questioned this and the latest hematologist said that is not troublesome....yet. Only prednisone has returned my white count to normal range and distribution.
So if IBD causes an attraction of white cells and I have a decreased count in my peripheral blood, wouldn't this tagged white cells test be positive if I do have IBD? Sounds like a no-brainer to me but t here must be drawbacks if no one has suggested it.
Hematologist #3 said that a neutrophil count of 1,000 is not alarming. Its when it gets down to 500 that the red flag goes up. True, I have had this for many years and no major increase of infections. And since my bone marrow is normal, no one is concerned. I have the low level of pANCA (antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody) but was told there is no connection???