Can anyone tell me if 75mg aspirin da... - Hughes Syndrome A...
Can anyone tell me if 75mg aspirin daily will affect the results of the initial blood test for Hughes?
Hello PepperT
Welcome to our friendly group.
Not as far as I'm aware it shouldn't. The test for Hughes looks for specific antibodies and these would not be affected by Aspirin.
Best wishes.
Dave
Many thanks, I have finally seen my GP and when I mentioned Hughes syndrome he looked completely blank, so he obviously didn't know an awful lot about it but politely looked at the stuff I had printed off the Hughes foundation site. He has given me forms for a blood test to take to the local path lab but I will just have to keep my fingers crossed that he has ordered the right tests!. The immunology part says to test for IENAS and IAS - no idea if that's right. Haematology test for FBC and ESR and lots of other things on the biochemistry form!
Hi PepperT
I've no idea about IAS or IENAS but the following is info on three blood tests; APS, FBC and ESR. I hope you find this useful. Note the two tests required for APS. Educate your GP! Best, John.
As antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) shares similar symptoms with multiple sclerosis, diagnosing it can sometimes be tricky.
However, it is very important that an accurate diagnosis is made because the blood clots that occur as a result of APS can have serious consequences.
Specific blood tests
To diagnose APS, the blood needs to be tested for the abnormal antiphospholipid antibodies that increase the risk of blood clots.
The blood tests used are designed to test for APS and the condition cannot be detected using routine blood tests. Two blood tests are required with a six- to eight-week gap in between them.
Sometimes, harmless antiphospholipid antibodies can develop in the body for short periods of time, often as a result of an infection or as a side effect of medication, such as antibiotics.
Therefore, if antiphospholipid antibodies are identified during the first blood test, another test will be needed at a later date.
Medical assessment
After the results of the blood tests have been confirmed, your medical history will be carefully assessed to check whether you have experienced any previous symptoms that may be caused by APS.
Full blood count (FBC)
A full blood count (FBC) is probably the most widely used blood test. It is used to assess your general state of health and to screen for certain conditions, such as anaemia.
During an FBC, a small sample of blood will be taken from a vein in your arm. The amount of different types of blood cells in the sample will be measured.
On its own, an FBC cannot usually provide a definitive diagnosis of a condition, but it can provide important "clues" about possible problems with your health.
Low haemoglobin indicates anaemia, which has a number of possible causes, including internal bleeding or a poor diet. High haemoglobin may be due to an underlying lung disease or problems with the bone marrow. A high platelet count may be due to inflammatory conditions, infection or a problem with the bone marrow.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
An erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test is a blood test that is used to check whether there is inflammation in the body.
The test works by measuring how long it takes for red blood cells to fall to the bottom of the test tube. The quicker they fall the more likely it is that there are high levels of inflammation.
An ESR is often used to aid diagnosis in conditions associated with inflammation such as arthritis, Crohn’s disease, temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica.
Along with other tests, an ESR can be useful in confirming whether you have an infection in your body.
(source: nhs.uk)
I have been taking aspirin 81 since my TIA, but I was not diagnosed until over a year later. Both APA tests were positive despite taking aspirin daily for a long time.
I hope this helps.
Hi the aspirin should not affect any blood results. Mary F x
Thanks so much for your help
Aspirin is a mild blood thinner and anti inflammatory. Thinning the blood is also anti inflammatory.
Therefore I would be surprised if aspirin did not affect antibody count.
Taking aspirin should reduce inflammation hence lower the antibody count otherwise what would be the point taking it!
Surely the whole point of taking blood thinners is to reduce the antibody count and hence reduce inflammation!
My anticardiolipin antibody result went from 30 to nearly zero after a few weeks of blood thinning.
Which was hardly a surprise.
Were you taking warfarin. Or heparin? Or was it aspirin?
