Anyone clued up on blood results?

[Rachie34]

Hi all

I posted recently about how my GP thinks I probably have PBC based on blood test results. I'm seeing a Hepatologist on Wednesday so I'm sure all will be explained then. However, I have my blood results to hand and just wondered if anyone clued up on such results know what they mean and what normal levels should be?

Anti-mitochondrial antibody level of 1:640.

Persistently elevated (for 3.5yrs) Alk Phos initially 216, currently 181

ALT 136

Nuclear autoantibody screening test = high positive (titre 1:80)

I'll soon be clued up on such results I'm sure, but if anyone could enlighten me, that would be great!

Thanks in advance.

[ninjagirlwebb]

From EASL PBC patient guidelines:

Blood tests

Your doctor will order blood tests to help them diagnose your condition correctly. If you have PBC, your blood tests are extremely likely to show the following markers:

• AMA (antimitochondrial antibodies) – more than 90% of patients with PBC will have these in their blood results

• Raised ALP – this indicates that there is an injury in the bile ducts

If this is the case, your doctor can very quickly make a diagnosis of PBC. However,

if your blood tests are inconclusive for the combination of AMA and ALP, your doctor may look for the following additional markers to help their diagnosis:

• Reduced bile flow levels

• Raised immunoglobulin concentrations, particularly IgM

• Raised transaminase enzymes AST and ALT – these are liver enzymes; raised levels can indicate that inflamed or injured liver cells are leaking higher than normal amounts of these enzymes into your bloodstream

• Raised bilirubin levels – this is a pigment in your blood that produces jaundice (yellow skin and eyes); levels increase as PBC progresses

• Specific ANA (antinuclear antibodies) – around 30% of patients with PBC will have these

Abnormal blood test results can indicate a number of conditions, and should always

be interpreted alongside clinical findings

by an experienced practitioner to avoid misdiagnosis. However, if your blood tests indicate both AMA and abnormal cholestasis levels (bile flow), then your doctor is likely

to diagnose PBC.

[butterflyEi]

Hi Rachie34

Depending on which country you are in some blood test results from different laboratories can have different parameters.

My last blood results were ALK 137 <30-130> and my ALT 55 <7-35>

I cannot see from the last tests the other two levels you are seeking answer for, good luck for Wednesday.

Come back and let us know how you get on.