Haemoglobin estimation -123g/l (120-150)
Haematocrit -0.362 L/L (0.36-0.46)
Platelet count 120 (150-450)
Red blood cell count 3.88 (3.80-4.80)
MCV 93.3 (83-101)
MCH 31.7 (27-32)
MCHC 340 (315-345)
Red cell dist width 12.2 (11.60-14.00)
Neutrophils 1.72 (2-7)
Lymphocyte 0.8 (1-3)
Hi the above are results from recent blood test at GP surgery to monitor my white bllod count and platelets which are persistently low in range. Can anyone help me understand the other readings please?
With no platelets, you need to be more careful if you are bleeding since your blood will not clot as well. The lymphocytes and neutrophils help with infections. Maybe wear a mask and be careful with things like hand washing and staying away from sick people. There are lots of things that can cause these. Your bone marrow may not be functioning properly. As there are many different causes, you need your doctor to do a thorough evaluation.
Many thanks for your reply.
Hi,
Apologies for not reading through your previous posts, too worn out today.
Research,medical and health articles may have details that could be upsetting to read.
Link about Full Blood Count (FBC)
See section on what test results mean.
labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...
The medical term for lower than normal numbers of blood cells is cytopenia.
Lower than normal numbers of
platelets - thrombocytopenia or thrombopenia
white blood cells - leukocytopenia or leukopenia
red blood cells - anaemia
neutrophils - neutrocytopenia or neutropenia
lymphocytes - lymphocytopenia or lymphopenia
Red blood cell count 3.88 (3.80-4.80)
Your red blood cell count is within range but quite close to the bottom.
Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell.
Your neutrophil result is below range
1.72 (2-7)
Your lymphocyte result is below range.
Lymphocyte 0.8 (1-3)
Three potential causes of cytopenias are B12 deficiency, folate deficiency and iron deficiency. There are many other possible causes so I'd expect a GP to investigate thoroughly.
What does GP think is causing lower than normal numbers of various blood cells?
MCH 31.7 (27-32)
MCHC 340 (315-345)
MCH and MCHC are fairly close to top of the range.
MCV is middle of the range.
Both haemoglobin estimation and haematocrit are quite close to bottom of range.
Anaemia is a potential cause of low haemaglobin and low haematocrit.
Haemoglobin estimation -123g/l (120-150)
Haematocrit -0.362 L/L (0.36-0.46)
RDW
RDW is at lower end of normal range. I think this means that your red blood cells are fairly similar in size but please check for yourself.
Red cell dist width 12.2 (11.60-14.00)
Low B12 (and/ or low folate) can lead to red blood cells that are larger than normal (macrocytosis).
Low iron can lead to red blood cells that are smaller than normal (microcytosis).
A person who has B12 deficiency (and/or folate deficiency) with iron deficiency may have red blood cells that appear to be normal sized on Full Blood Count because the effects of iron deficiency mask effects of B12 (or folate) deficiency.
Do you have recent results for folate, iron and B12?
Some UK doctors tend to test just ferritin but there are other iron tests.
labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...
Have you had a blood smear ( also known as blood film)?
labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...
I left detailed replies in this thread which might be of interest.
Help Needed! Have I got Pernicious Anaemia?
healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...
I'm not medically trained.
HI SLeepybunny. Thank you for your very detailed and helpful reply. On 5 Nov my folate was 13.4 (7-35) and my ferritin was 62 (30-332). At end Aug my iron was 16.9 ( 10-30). These tests were with Medicheck.
I should perhaps also say that my serum b12 has historically been at top of range so GP would never consider B12 deficiency as they do not do the active b12 test. I have had active b12 checked by Medichecks.
If you're in UK......
NICE (National Institute of Health and Care Excellence) have published guidance on iron deficiency anaemia.
Search for "NICE iron deficiency anaemia guideline" to find it.
Patient Info website has an article on non-anaemic iron deficiency.
Put "non-anaemic iron deficiency" in search box on their website.
Patient Info also have some good articles about macrocytosis.
Do you have a result on Full Blood Count tests for eosinophils ( a type of white blood cell)?
As your folate is middle of the range, might be worth asking GP or a local pharmacist if you would benefit from taking a folate supplement with RDA (recommended daily amount) in it.
Has your GP excluded the possibility of ITP?
ITP stands for Immune thrombocytopenia or Idiopathic thrombocytopenia.
It's an autoimmune condition where there are fewer platelets than normal.
ITP Support Association (UK charity) have info on this condition.
"serum b12 has historically been at top of range so GP would never consider B12 deficiency as they do not do the active b12 test"
Blog post about being symptomatic for B12 deficiency with an in range serum B12 result
b12info.com/your-serum-b12-...
Symptoms
If your symptoms suggest B12 deficiency, has your GP got a list of them?
I used PAS checklist below and added extra symptoms at bottom of page.
pernicious-anaemia-society....
Other symptoms lists
b12info.com/signs-and-sympt...
theb12society.com/signs-and...
Has your GP considered the possibility of functional B12 deficiency?
This is where there is plenty of B12 in the blood but it's not getting to where it's needed in the cells so person develops deficiency symptoms.
If you have symptoms suggestive of B12 deficiency but your serum B12 results are close to top of the range then I would expect them to consider possibility of functional B12 deficiency.
MMA, homocysteine and active B12 (holotranscobalamin) tests may help to diagnose functional B12 deficiency.
Links about MMA test
labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...
stichtingb12tekort.nl/engli...
Links about homocysteine
labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...
You said your GP surgery does not do the Active B12 test...
If you're in UK, you might want to point out to them that new NICE B12 deficiency guideline encourages GP to consider doing the Active B12 test.
PAS article on new NICE B12 deficiency guideline
pernicious-anaemia-society....
Hi Sleepybunny - Thank you for all of this information. It will take me some time to read through and understand this all with my somewhat slow brain!
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