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Latest blood test, high white blood count, high neutrophils

Posted , 7 users are following.

jan21306
jan21306

Also low lymphocytes.  I am waiting to talk to my GP about it, but woild like to go in armed with some know ledge about it.   Can anyone tell me what this might mean.   I seem to remember reading   Something about neutrophils in a post before.  I am not feeling ill really, but exhausted and internal shaking a lot.  I would be so grateful for your thoughts please.

 

1 like, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • pat38625
    pat38625 jan21306

    Posted

    Hi Jan, welcome to the forum.  I am not qualified to answer your question but I am sure one of the more experienced ladies/gents will be along soon to answer your question.  Good luck on your journey.  Regards Pat
    • jan21306
      jan21306 pat38625

      Posted

      Thanks Pat !   Hope everything is going well for you 
  • EileenH
    EileenH jan21306

    Posted

    They are a normal response to pred. All corticosteroids cause an increase in the neutrophil count and - as a result the total white count also rises. There is also usually a fall in lymphocytes at the same time.

    Sorry - can't give you the link to the work confirming it here but this is the article and if you google it you can read the summary if your medical/technical knowledge is up to it.

    "Effect of low-dose prednisone on leukocyte counts.  Natali B et al."

    • jan21306
      jan21306 EileenH

      Posted

      Thank you Eileen.   That is such a relief.  I thought perhaps I had picked up something else that was going to cause me trouble.  I am not sure whether my medical/technical knowledge is up to it, but I will find out for sure, as I want to read anything amd everything about PMR.   I hope you are having lots of sunshine in Italy today to boost the vit D !
    • constance.de
      constance.de jan21306

      Posted

      Actually, a general question!  I read if you are in the sun for 20 mins per day you will have enough vit D in your system.  Does that mean you shouldn't take a vit D tablet that day?
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey constance.de

      Posted

      Constance, it's unlikely that we ever get sufficient Vit D from the sun in this country to boost our Vit D to overly high levels, rather the sunshine will just help to maintain the levels improved by the Vit D.
    • EileenH
      EileenH constance.de

      Posted

      Echoing MrsO! But if we are deficient it is very likely that our "skin factory" isn't working properly for some reason. Apart from any other consideration, if it works at 100% at age 20 (which it doesn't necessarily), by the time we are in our late 60s it is down to about one quarter efficiency. The amount we make in skin is limited naturally, you can't overdose, but there is no guarantee you are making the full amount.
    • constance.de
      constance.de EileenH

      Posted

      Thank you Eileen and Mrs O - just wondered!  Am stuck with the tablets - at least they don't seem to have any side-effects.
  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey jan21306

    Posted

    Jan, I had raised white cells during my undignosed days.  But apart from PMR they can rise in the case of infections/viruses.

    You have very recently increased to 10mg following symptoms that sounded very much like a flare.  Were the blood tests carried out before this increase?  I ask because if you were indeed having a flare prior to the increased dose at around the same time as the blood tests then the abnormal results could be due to the inflammation at the time.  If your symptoms have improved on 10mg then perhaps repeating the test in a couple of weeks will show an improvement and you will have your answer.

    • jan21306
      jan21306 MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Hi Mrs O.  Yes, the blood test was done before I raised the pred.   The symptoms have improved.  But driving or housework or anything other than just pottering about causes slight aches.  I shall have another blood test done in two weeks.   A big thank you to you and Eileen for your prompt replies, it is good to speak to the doc armed with this knowledge !
  • charlie44644
    charlie44644 jan21306

    Posted

    Hi Jan,

    As Eileen has mentioned above, prednisone raises the percentage of neutrophils.

    Nothing to be alarmed about in this situation. Neutrophils are white cells that increase when there is an inflammatory process, especially bacterial. You might look at them as the little firemen who try to put out the flames when one has an abcess, pneumonia etc. Lymphocytes do the same thing but are more involved with viruses. There are a few other white cells such as eosinophils which deal with allergies. 

    The white cell report usually lists the individual types of cells as a %. So, if your neutrophils are up then one or some of the other numbers have to go down so that the total is still 100%. The number of the other cells may not have actually changed but because the neutrophils increased they become more dominant and the others appear have a lower presence. With a big infection the neutrophils will control the count by doubling or tripling their presence.

    With PMR the neurolphils tend to increase a little and the lymphocytes look like they have decreased.

    My blood count was off just a bit 5 months ago with my neutrophils being 79 ( normal high is 77 in my lab) and the lymphocytes were 12 (with a low normal of 20).

    I hope the above information will help with your visit to your doctor.

    Charlie 44644

    • jan21306
      jan21306 charlie44644

      Posted

      Thanks Charlie, very useful and interesting information.  It is amazinghow much knowledge there is on this forum.   I love your analogy with the little fireman.   My chat with the GP is really rather redundant now !!!  Best wishes jan
  • jennissw
    jennissw jan21306

    Posted

    If you take vit d and or calcium, be sure to take K2 in MK4 form to make sure it goes to bones and not blood and heart
    • jan21306
      jan21306 jennissw

      Posted

      Hi Jennissw,  what is K2 in MK4 form ?   I dont think I have heard of it before !
  • jennissw
    jennissw jan21306

    Posted

    h Hi vitamin k2 is what the Japanese presScribe for osteoporosis along with d3 ...I buy thorns from Amazon. The. Prescribed dose is 45mg, along with d3 which I had 3000mg for a while...now I have 10000mg d3 and 20mg of k2. My teeth were almost transparent but now they are looking more solid and I hope that is applying to my bones too.
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