Changing blood results x

[RCBr]

Hi, I'm on 90mcg of Pegasys Interferon at present and my HCT and platelets are finally reducing without venesection which it good....but my most recent plasma viscosity was 185...and my RDW was 18% which it has been for a while. Should I be concerned about this? ....I must admit it's beginning to worry me now x

[Wyebird]

hi I take it you have PV. I can’t help you ( I’m ET) I’m sure someone will offer sound advice soon.

[RCBr in reply to Wyebird]

Thankyou for your reply...yes...I am PV x

[hunter5582]

If your HCT is still a bit high then it is expected that the viscosity would also be a bit high. The answer to your question would be based on the reference range for the viscosity lab you are referencing. If both HCT and viscosity are just a bit high and dropping, then you are moving in the right direction. Your HCT goal is likely either 42 or 43% for a female. This is an issue to review with your care team for a case specific answer.

The fact that your platelets are still high would not impact your blood viscosity. Platelets comprise less than 1% of your total blood volume. There is not a linear relationship between the number of platelets and risk of thrombosis like there is with HCT. This would be another issue to review with your care team as you set your treatment goals. It helps to understand why the absolute number of platelets is not as important as HCT.

RDW = Red Cell Width Distribution. When it is high, it means there is larger than normal distribution in RBC sizes. There are a number of possible reasons, including iron deficiency and the impact of some medications. The interpretation of RDW must be done in the context of the other erythrocyte numbers such as MCV. Note that my RDW is always high (16.2 - 19.7) and my MCV is always low (77.6 - 73.9). These numbers are improving as my iron levels restore the longer I am on Besremi. This is another issue to review with your care team to ensure you understand what the numbers mean in your case.

While you wait to talk to your care team, you may find it helpful to learn more about the meaning of the numbers on your CBC. It helps to understand the base concepts when you speak to your care team. This video is very informative and relatively easy to understand.

youtube.com/watch?v=Xj_yE1p...(Not working as expected?)

All the best

[RCBr]

Thankyou so much for your very detailed reply ...I do have a review next week, so I'll ask the questions then....I'll have a listen to the link...I'm sure I'll find it useful.Rachel x