Blood results

[golf036]

Hi All, I have just today been emailed some blood results from a specialist Raynauds clinic in London, with no explanation with them and impossible to reach them by phone! There are a few things amiss and I whilst I am familiar with what they are, I'm not sure if they have direct relation to the Raynauds or if actually I have other problems going on I never knew about!

They are low C3, high ALT/AST and extremely high CK (although I have a high muscle mass). Any thoughts would be most welcome. I have no known liver problems, by the way.

Thank you

[LucyJean]

Hi there, without knowing a full medical history and being the Dr involved with your treatment I don't think any of us would be able to comment on what those results mean for you personally. Can you email these people back and ask what the Dr has found? Presumably they are doing it because they are going to see you again and treat you?

Otherwise I would take them to my GP and ask their advice.

All my best

Lucy

[golf036 in reply to LucyJean]

Thanks Lucy, I am hoping for a follow up letter at some point but in the meantime am a little concerned. If it doesn't come soon I will try and see my GP but it's nigh on impossible to get booked in even if you are dying at the moment!

Lisa

[LucyJean in reply to golf036]

Lisa, I found this link to the NHS page on blood tests. I had no idea it exists but it has an A-Z of all the tests and what they mean.

nhs.uk/conditions/blood-tests/

Here are the links to the specific tests you mention:

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

Be a bit careful about doing home diagnosis because they do really need interpretation in combination with the rest of your medical history! That is why I am reluctant to tell you what I know on the subject because I don't know you, and without that one could jump to various conclusions. You will see that the C3 is a complement test (this is usually used in the diagnosis of Lupus...low complement = possibility of Lupus, but it is usually needing to be done in conjunction with a C4 screening (another form of complement). The ALT/AST are just basic liver function tests. high results usually indicate that your liver is not working quite so efficiently, but these results are easily skewed by a variety of things and can change overnight. Lastly the CK is usually indicative of muscle damage, again there are lots of factors that affect it. You will see what the website links say about it all.

Hope that gives you a bit more info

Lxxx

p.s. I know what you mean about the Drs. You just have to pretend to be at deaths door and that usually does the trick (although of course you didn't hear me say that

[golf036 in reply to LucyJean]

Thanks so much Lucy! I am sort of ok with ALT and CK as I do a lot of heavy resistance training but this is the first time the ALT has shown up as elevated. The C3 is an unknown to me; I did mention to the hospital that I was wondering if I had Sjogrens so I wonder if it gives an indication of that as well? I have chronic IBS, dry eye, dry mouth as well as the Raynauds.

[LucyJean in reply to golf036]

Never seen C3 used to test for Sjogrens. You want them to do an Autoantibody Test (ANAs) if you want to know if you have any autoantibodies for conditions like that. There are lots of forms of complement that work in a sort of coordinated way as part of the normal functioning immune system.

britannica.com/science/comp...

Sounds like there is something a bit autoimmune going on for you. Hope that the investigations prove helpful. Can you get your GP to get you to see a Rheumatologist on the NHS?

Lx

[golf036 in reply to LucyJean]

I did years ago for the original diagnosis. This latest one was a nurse practitioner-led specialist clinic. I am due back in March so may have to talk about a further referral if needs be