"Normal" blood results?
Posted , 7 users are following.
I have read several articles about PMR sufferers with ESR & GCA that have no elevated blood markers. One said 1 in 177 patients, one said 1 in 1000, one said 10%. I'm not good with numbers but these don't make sense to me (!?!). Are any of them correct?
0 likes, 14 replies
EileenH constance.de
Posted
Most of the reveiws I've read vary in the figure they quote from 1% to about 17% - whatever, rather higher than 1 in 1000 which from the population I've come across is patently wrong! I don't personally know 1000 people with PMR/GCA but there are far more than 0.1% with normal blood markers on the forums - I'd say I've probably "met" five or six hundred over the last 7 years and I can tell you two them with normal markers off the top of my head and I know there are at least 4 or 5 more amongst them and probably more since I haven't asked everyone what their ESR was!
Of course - part of the "there aren't PMR cases with normal markers" is the same as "it never happens in under 50s" (or whatever the age of the month is). They don't look for it, therefore it doesn't exist.
Daniel1143 constance.de
Posted
Oregonjohn-UK constance.de
Posted
What I have found is my 'Full Blood Count' come up with 'Abnormal' e.g. this last test shows Total white cell count 11.9 (range 4 - 11), Platelet count 565 (range 150 - 400) this one has been high since I started preds and was at the first test after starting 640!! All the other blood counts (10 of them) are within the range except Neutrophil count 8.6 (range 2 - 7.5).
If all this sound a bit technical I'm sorry I don't understand all of them, neither does my GP!
EileenH Oregonjohn-UK
Posted
Your "Total white cell count" is probably very slightly high because your neutrophils are high, both counts are similar amounts above the top of the range - neutrophils are one of a range of white cells and are the ones implicated in PMR/GCA. There is some thought that a specialised neutrophil test could provide a better way of monitoring the progess of treatment of PMR/GCA. Pred has its effect via neutrophils - and that is probably how it works in PMR/GCA. White cells are almost always raised when you are on pred and so are platelets.
If your current ESR is 5 - then if it gets to 30 it is very high for you, which is what is important, even though it is still technically "within normal range" for the general population.
Oregonjohn-UK EileenH
Posted
He was not that concerned about the other 'Total white cell count' as it was only just over the normal range, it has been just under a couple of times in the past.
EileenH Oregonjohn-UK
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Oregonjohn-UK EileenH
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Oregonjohn-UK
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EileenH Oregonjohn-UK
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Anhaga constance.de
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EileenH Anhaga
Posted
I feel that it would be a useful exercise for it to be done every few years as part of a "screen" so that you have some idea of what your personal normal might be - mine is in single figures, others are much higher so yours may be fine.
Dream on Eileen!!!
Anhaga EileenH
Posted
veronica81435 constance.de
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constance.de veronica81435
Posted
I was diagnosed on the day I saw my doctor. I had strange pains in shoulders, arms, wrists and then I found I couldn't get out of bed (all this for only a few weeks). Dr recognised the symptoms immediately.
That was nearly five years ago and it looks as if I am stuck with it. However, there are worse things to be stuck with.😀
Being so young you may be 'lucky' and it will have an easy ride.
All the best fr Constance. 💐