Blood results

[Mcdive40]

Hi there I got my blood results today but a few of them are marked with little * so I think they might be high but like I said before I'm not sure what the counts are meant to be my ALT is 95 , MCH is 32.1 , creatinine is 81 and T BILI <5 is there anyone that knows what they are meant to be

[Matilda_1922]

Total bilrubin is normal

Creatinine sounds normal but its individual for each one of us

Not sure what MCH is

ALT is very high which sometimes be referred to as a fatty liver also can be due to obesity

Hope this helps

[Mcdive40 in reply to Matilda_1922]

Thank you for that but I'm only 10 half stone so don't think it would be fatty liver

[Karen77 in reply to Mcdive40]

You can have fatty liver without being fat. It can be the result of food, liquor or medication - or a combination of those, I believe. Your liver is certainly being poorly affected, likely due to your RA medication. I had to go off MTX when mine was persistently high over the course of 1.5 years, but I think the highest my ALT every got to was 77.

[Mcdive40 in reply to Matilda_1922]

Thank you for your help

[Em13]

MCH could be mean cell haemoglobin (if so, this should be 27.5 - 32.5 according to my GPs lab). Mine is often below that, but my GPs are not interested, so yours is fine! Creatinine range is given as 45-84 on my results, so again you are likely to be within the normal range. The ALT range is given as less than 33, so that does look quite high. It could be a side effect of drugs though. Bilrubin up to 21 is within range.

Ranges vary a little between different labs.

Hope this helps.

[Hidden]

Your ALT does look high but may not be due to fatty liver. Mine was at a similar level for over a year, most likely caused by Mtx, and eventually I had a liver scan which showed my liver to be perfectly healthy.

With several results out of whack I would phone the rheumatology helpline for advice and further information. I think that is the most important first step as it can't be right to leave you in the dark. However, just as an add on, my rheumy suggested I up my Folic Acid intake to one 5 mg tablet 6 days a week (i.e. every day except Mtx day) and my ALT returned to normal. But that was just me, there could be all sorts of reasons for these raised levels so do ask for an explanation and check whether anything should or could be done in the circumstances.

[Mcdive40 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your help and I will talk to my consultant I have appointment with her soon

[JEM95]

My ALT has varied over the last year from 30s to 90 odd. My GP was concerned so sent me for a liver scan. I have non alcoholic fatty liver disease (I'm well upholstered but not obese). No more alcohol for me

Each time my MXT is increased my ALT reacts. I'm on 22.5 mg MXT at the moment so dosage probably won't go up much more - the plan is to reduce it without affecting the remission I am currently enjoying.

When I talked my Rheumy Consultant he was far less concerned about my raised ALT than my GP.

After almost a year of ALT blips I'm pretty stable around the mid 40s again.

I try not to think about stuff too much. I put my faith in my Rheumy team and GP and am enjoying a period of remission again, so they must know what they are doing!!

[Karen77 in reply to JEM95]

I was pulled off MTX when my ALT was above normal at no matter what dose of MTX.

[Hidden]

Like you I just assumed the *s meant that all these levels were out of whack. Seeing others' replies I checked out your MCH level here:

labtestsonline.org.uk/

It does seem to be fine so I don't understand why it has been flagged. My results get asterisked if they are just a little out either way & with some of these levels a point or two up or down is not a problem. But an * beside one that is safely within range would puzzle me. You're going to be getting blood tests for a long time to come so if it's your GP that checks them it would be as well to ask them exactly what their system is.

And the website I've linked to is good, I'd recommend it. However maybe it's just me but I sometimes find it difficult to get to the actual range for any given test. Can anyone advise how best to navigate it?

[Mcdive40 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for that I will have a look 👍

[Mcdive40 in reply to Hidden]

Hi I had a look on the website the only thing it don't tell you is what the levels are meant to be because that's what I'm not sure about what the levels are meant to be because my nurse never told me

[Hidden in reply to Mcdive40]

Okay, you're right they don't give the normal ranges. This one does though:

gloshospitals.nhs.uk/en/War...

[JanWellcome]

Hi. I don't think ALT on its own is enough to say you have a liver problem, could be down to what you have eaten to day before your test or even your meds, Ask the doctors to re-test or send for a scan.

One of the things they look for when on the drugs for RA is liver function, but if there is a problem down to the drugs they will take you off, and the liver is one of the organs that can repair itself, but you other levels look fine.

There are a number of lab result websites that can help you understand your results.

Hope this helps

Jan