Methotrexate

[Mcdive40]

Hi all can anyone tell me what your liver function test is meant to be I'm on methotrexate but I'm not sure if my ATL test is to high at the moment it's 81

[Matilda7]

You should also have been given the normal range and be assured that if your doctors were alarmed they would get in touch with you!

[Mcdive40 in reply to Matilda7]

No she didn't give me the normal range she said its slightly high but I don't no what the range is

[Matilda_1922 in reply to Mcdive40]

Normal is below 35

[Mcdive40 in reply to Matilda_1922]

Is it well 81 is high then I had another test last week and still a bit high

[Hidden]

Different labs can and do use different calculations from one another. At least in Canada they do. A high number from one lab can be safer than a low number from another lab. My advice to you is to find the safe range from the lab you use.

Also, just because one month your numbers are high, the next month they could lower. Doctors like to average you lab numbers over a period of time.

[helixhelix]

My current lab gives under 50 as the range, so it does vary. Ask for a print out of your results as that should then show the range. One odd result is not normally a big issue, did the nurse suggest retesting or just to wait until the next regular test?

[Mcdive40 in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you for that the nurse said to retest so had another bloody test last week and still a bit high she said but I do have appointment for see consultant beginning of December

[Paula-C]

My specalist nurse told me that beings we are on Mtx anything up to 70 is ok. Mine once rose to the dizzy heights of 267 had to stop drugs until I had two ok blood results. It went down straight away and Ihen had my Mtx dose lowered, never had a problem since.

Consultant told me that they don't get worried until it's in the 600's. xx

[Mcdive40 in reply to Paula-C]

Do you get a print out of your blood results think I'm going to ask them to do that I want to keep an eye on them myself as well

[Gigi71 in reply to Mcdive40]

Hi. Like Paula, I too have a Mtx monitoring booklet, I leave it a week and then ring the rheumy nurses helpline, they get back to me with the results to fill in. I did try adding my Gp to the blood form, so the surgery got a copy, bit hit an miss, the receptionist prints out a copy, when requested. Good luck.

[Em13 in reply to Paula-C]

600s?? And there is me worrying because mine has risen to 37! (Range given as should be less than 33.)

[Paula-C]

I have my bloods done at the hospital. I have a Mtx monitoring booklet. When I go to get my bloods done I give it to the nurse and she then puts in the results from the previous test. x

[Mcdive40 in reply to Paula-C]

Hi there

No they never gave me a book but I'm going to ask for a print out of all my blood results or a booklet because I would like to keep an eye on my own blood tests because they have been a bit high

[melissa6140]

mine kept going up a little every month after the third month the doctor took me off it. But I go to a place that goes by your income because I have no insurance and can't afford it. They have a website that has all your tests results and illnesses and appointments on line. But on the results the say what the test result was and what it should be so you can go on there and look its really nice. I think all doctors should do it so that you can look it up yourself and see what is going on.

[Mcdive40 in reply to melissa6140]

Oh don't you live in the U.K. Then because we have NHS here and no we don't anything like that where you can get it off a computer

[cathie in reply to Mcdive40]

I always try to remember to ask for a printout which here (Scotland). Gives the normal range and previous results too.

A word of caution if you're told to come off methotrexate try to argue for it to be gradual. They withdrew mine overnight and it was catastrophic. My current rheumy says it should have been done more cautiously. Good luck.

[Mcdive40 in reply to cathie]

Thank you for that but I don't think the Methatrexate is working for me I still get all the pains

[melissa6140 in reply to Mcdive40]

no I live in virginia but even here not all doctors have the computer log for you

[Scottishlad]

Not sure if this is the same test which l had repeated when it was just over 40 which was deemed to be a trigger. My rheumatology consultant spotted the re-test and wrote to my GP telling them not to worry unless it reached 80.

[Mcdive40 in reply to Scottishlad]

Yeah mine was 81 and I had to have another blood test right away and that one has only gone down a little bit got another test next week so should no more then

[Joy_1]

Like others have suggested, get a print out. It will give you the range for each test. On my print outs it says 0 - 55 iu/l is the normal range.

I have had a couple of higher readings over the last 4 years (ie since diagnosis). One was 99 one month then 33 the following month. The Consultant said "not to worry about the odd blip it is caused by the MTX. "