New Labs in from last week - comments welcome

Direct Labs had an anemia bundle this month, just got the results.

I have about 50 different metrics to look at but the KEY metric was my platelet count, it was 688 upon hospitalization for stroke related to a major UC flare 4 months ago.

Platelets 357 x10E3/uL 140-415 01

Hermatocrit, RBC and Iron are all within range so my 2nd biggest question 'Anemia' has been answered. Going to remain on a single daily dose of delayed release iron. Only things missing are Vitamin D and Pituitary and I will wait until they are in the montlhy featured lab bundle.

Beginning to research a new finding:

"If the RDW level is increased and the MCV level is normal. This can be caused by the beginning stages of a decrease in vitamin B12 or folic acid (a type of vitamin) in the body. It can also be caused by the beginning stages of iron deficiency anemia."

RDW 20.8 HIGH % 11.7-15.0

Well it is not due to a decrease in B12 I stopped the B12 injections yet I am coming up High for B12

Vitamin B12 1135 HIGH pg/mL 211-946 01

Folic acid look to be within range too..

Folate (Folic Acid), Serum 17.8 ng/mL >3.0 01
Indeterminate: 2.2 - 3.0
Deficient: <2.2

"According to the analysis of your recent blood profile, you have
some blood values that are out of range. Since a complete
analysis of your condition can only be determined by a physician,
it is recommended that you take your results to your Doctor for


The only thing low was :

eGFR 46 LOW mL/min/1.73 >59

No idea at the moment what that is.
further evaluation. "

Post Edited (aguywithuc) : 2/1/2011 10:04:39 AM (GMT-7)

suenew61 said...
Hi aguywithuc
The last test you mentioned (eGFR) is the estimated glomerular filtration rate - which relates to renal(kidney) function. It is a standard calculation based on your age/sex/ethnic origin and creatinine result. Depending how close to average height and general build you are it will be more or less accurate. You may want to get an opinion from your general doctor who can look at the overall picture.
Sue

I saw that it was targeted by lung cancer therapy and thought that was good but I just looked again and it is the gold standard for kidney disease. Not good.

" Oral mesalamine, particularly Asacol, may slightly increase the risk for kidney damage. (Olsalazine has a lesser effect on the kidneys.)"

So I see my GI doc tomorrow and may need to get off 5-ASA's and only use when a flare occurs.

Oh it is derived by dividing creatinine results. I can drive my creatinine results up or down because I take 'creatine' and eat a lot of protein and push a lot of weight. I will halt the creatine intake and measure again in one month. Should be way north of 60 at that time.

Post Edited (aguywithuc) : 2/1/2011 1:31:55 PM (GMT-7)

Well mesalamine and sulfasalazine can be hard on the kidneys. Something to bring up with the GI doc tomorrow.

"A case of acute renal failure with characteristics of interstitial nephritis associated to treatment with mesalazine (5-ASA bound to resin) in a 26-year old patient with a 7-year history of Crohn's disease is presented. The patient had been previously treated with 5-ASA with no alterations in renal function being observed. Renal failure became manifest several days after initiation of maintenance therapy with 5-ASA during the latest outbreak of intestinal inflammatory disease and disappeared upon suppression of the drug."

"Yeah my GI said risking occasional flares vs kidney damage is the lesser of the evils. "

"My GI suggested I see an internist as my creatinine levels were high. They did a 24 hour urinalysis, and my glomerular filration rate is low and I have interstitial nephritis. Long story short, I now have to stop taking Lialda to see if that is what is causing it. The risk of having flares is less harmful than the damage this could be doing to my kidneys. If the kidney conditions don't improve after being off the Lialda, then I guess it's a whole other problem."


Adverse reactions

GU: interstitial nephritis, renal failure

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