Eosinophils blood test

[Angelgoth]

My consultant at the Royal Brompton wants me to have a blood test to check for eosinophils when I have an asthma flare up and before starting pred. He is also happy for me to stay on a low dose if I need to, I'm currently on a very slow taper. Was just wondering if a low dose of pred 5 or 10mg would affect the results. Has anyone had the blood test while on pred? my cons is hoping I might become candidate for biologicals.

[Xiave]

I had a blood test while on 50mg pred a few years back and my eosinophils came back at 0.01, despite my non-pred levels being 1.5-1.7 ish. So I would say a high dose of pred definitely affects eosinophils.

My cons wanted a baseline eosinophil level too a while ago, and he asked me to taper all the way down and be completely off pred for 2-3 weeks (I think? Can't remember exactly) before having the bloods, so the levels would be accurate. I have to say it was a bit of a challenge trying to come completely off mid-winter inbetween multiple chest infections! It might be that eosinophils while on 5mg/10mg pred might be closer to your 'normal', but they'll probably still be lower than they would be off pred completely. The most accurate test would be while off pred (for 2/3 weeks ish?), but obviously that's quite a while to go without pred.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi

I managed to get eos high enough for MABs whilst on 20mg I think (I was swinging on my dose, but never went lower than 10mg). Pretty sure they weren’t as high as they could have been had I been on 0, but it was enough!

It’s worth a try as it is just a blood test and if you can be eligible for MABs and they can help....

[Angelgoth]

Thanks for the replies I will deffinately be going for the blood test, just hoping I will be able to come off pred as my eosinophils have been to low in the past.

[Pipsqueak77]

Hi Angelgoth

I would def try to reduce pred several weeks before the test if you can. It does have a massive effect on eosinophils especially if you are borderline MAB levels.

Also I had to have raised levels within a year of starting the MAB. So just make sure that if the result comes back within MAB levels that they don’t sit on the results for too long or you have to start all over again!😬

That might be an issue now with Covid slowing up all medical outpatient appts..

Take care

😊👍

[Angelgoth]

Hi Pipsqueak

Thanks for your reply, my cons told me 12 months aswell. I'm hoping to taper off pred completely but cons is happy for me to stay on 5mg if needed. I'm on 11mg at the moment tapering slowly by 1mg.

I also have to go to the hospital for my blood test as for some reason my GP won't do it.

[Pipsqueak77 in reply to Angelgoth]

Hi Angelgoth

🤞the tapering and blood test go well for you....

Bit annoying having to go to the hospital for bloods though.

My GP is totally useless but seemed to love chasing eosinophils when I needed bloods..😂

Hope all goes to plan.

Take care 😊

[Angelgoth in reply to Pipsqueak77]

thank you very much, my GP has decided not to do them for some reason very annoying and cons isn't happy.

Hope you are doing ok, do u find the MABs help?

[Pipsqueak77]

Hi

Yes.. absolutely brilliant! I have had 3 doses and so far so good even in this heatwave. 🤞it lasts..

I hope you are successful in your bid - if you have a good cons keep them onboard!

🍀

Take care 😊