Looking at lab results... don't understand all of it
drummerman said
Aug 13, 2015
Thanks Cinnamon,
A very good explanation... I appreciate it!
dm
Cinnamon Girl said
Aug 13, 2015
Hi Dm,
Yes, I agree with John, nothing to worry about there. Your AST and ALT levels are great, and a drop like that is a good indication that the treatment is working well.
Your Hgb at 14.8 is very good. Yes that is the blood count which would show if you were anaemic, but it would need to drop quite a bit lower to about 10 before you`d need to worry about that You don`t need to be concerned about fluctuations in your blood counts, they are quite normal while on treatment and this all looks good.
About the viral load test, there are tests which are more sensitive and can measure viral quantities below 15 iu/ml, but this one is commonly used by many labs. It doesn`t make any difference in the long run, so don`t worry. When it says `HVC RNA detected, less than 15IU/mL` it means that the test can detect the presence of the virus but at such a low level that it is unable to measure the quantity.
The palpitations and anxiety are almost certainly caused by the ribavirin, as is the shortness of breath. Yes, very annoying I know! Just try to take it a bit easy, and remember that the treatment is doing its job well.
Take care and best of luck!
drummerman said
Aug 13, 2015
thanks JL30!
Looks like you did good on the Harvoni!
dm
-- Edited by drummerman on Thursday 13th of August 2015 09:03:51 PM
JLynch30 said
Aug 13, 2015
These numbers look great - I would not be concerned at all.
drummerman said
Aug 13, 2015
First thing I noticed was my AST and ALT are down to 18, before tx they were both at 34. I assume this is good??
Some things I don't really understand...
WBC is 13.1 10.8 is the upper end of the normal range. Is this bad?? Is it normal for your white blood cells to increase like this?
Red blood count is comfortably in the normal range.
Hemoglobin is 14.8 (normal range) Is this the measurement that would show if I was anemic??
Neutrophils are 9.1 (normal range = 1.4-7.0) Is this bad? Should I be concerned?
Monocytes are 1.5, slightly out of the normal range. 0.9 is the upper limit. Everything else is in the normal range.... although Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase, are pushing the upper limit.
One last concern ... I know that different labs have different equipment for measuring viral load. My lab report say "The quantitative range of the assay is 15 IU/mL to 100 million IU/mL. Results less than the quantitiative range of the assay will be reported as "HCV RNA detected, less that 15 IU/mL.
Is this the most sensitive viral load test???
ps - the only side effect I am having is anxiousness and a pounding heart at times ( doc called it palpatations.... also get very winded quite easily. Super annoying.
Thanks Cinnamon,
A very good explanation... I appreciate it!
dm
Hi Dm,
Yes, I agree with John, nothing to worry about there. Your AST and ALT levels are great, and a drop like that is a good indication that the treatment is working well.
Your Hgb at 14.8 is very good. Yes that is the blood count which would show if you were anaemic, but it would need to drop quite a bit lower to about 10 before you`d need to worry about that You don`t need to be concerned about fluctuations in your blood counts, they are quite normal while on treatment and this all looks good.
About the viral load test, there are tests which are more sensitive and can measure viral quantities below 15 iu/ml, but this one is commonly used by many labs. It doesn`t make any difference in the long run, so don`t worry. When it says `HVC RNA detected, less than 15IU/mL` it means that the test can detect the presence of the virus but at such a low level that it is unable to measure the quantity.
The palpitations and anxiety are almost certainly caused by the ribavirin, as is the shortness of breath. Yes, very annoying I know! Just try to take it a bit easy, and remember that the treatment is doing its job well.
Take care and best of luck!
thanks JL30!
Looks like you did good on the Harvoni!
dm
-- Edited by drummerman on Thursday 13th of August 2015 09:03:51 PM
These numbers look great - I would not be concerned at all.
First thing I noticed was my AST and ALT are down to 18, before tx they were both at 34. I assume this is good??
Some things I don't really understand...
WBC is 13.1 10.8 is the upper end of the normal range. Is this bad?? Is it normal for your white blood cells to increase like this?
Red blood count is comfortably in the normal range.
Hemoglobin is 14.8 (normal range) Is this the measurement that would show if I was anemic??
Neutrophils are 9.1 (normal range = 1.4-7.0) Is this bad? Should I be concerned?
Monocytes are 1.5, slightly out of the normal range. 0.9 is the upper limit.
Everything else is in the normal range.... although Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase, are pushing the upper limit.
One last concern ... I know that different labs have different equipment for measuring viral load.
My lab report say "The quantitative range of the assay is 15 IU/mL to 100 million IU/mL. Results less than the quantitiative range of the assay will be reported as "HCV RNA detected, less that 15 IU/mL.
Is this the most sensitive viral load test???
ps - the only side effect I am having is anxiousness and a pounding heart at times ( doc called it palpatations.... also get very winded quite easily. Super annoying.
any thoughts, insights would be appreciated.
thanks!
dm