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What Do My Blood Test Results Indicate?
Question: Hi,
I am wondering if my anemia could be caused by drinking a few times a week over the years. My B12, iron and WBCs are normal - here are the abnormal results: MCV 119.1fl
MCH 35.6pg
MCHC 29.9g/dl
Red cell 17.3%
RBC 2.47ul
Hematocrit 29.4%
Hemoglobin 8.8g/dl
Iron 192
% saturation 51%
My internist wants me to follow up with a hematologist and get a colonoscopy.
I am wondering if my anemia could be caused by drinking a few times a week over the years. My B12, iron and WBCs are normal - here are the abnormal results: MCV 119.1fl
MCH 35.6pg
MCHC 29.9g/dl
Red cell 17.3%
RBC 2.47ul
Hematocrit 29.4%
Hemoglobin 8.8g/dl
Iron 192
% saturation 51%
My internist wants me to follow up with a hematologist and get a colonoscopy.
Brief Answer:
You have macrocytic anemia and you should search the cause.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.
You have low haemoglobin and low RBC mass with high MCV. So its clear that you have macrocytic anemia.
Now there are many causes of macrocytic anemia.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is the most common cause. But as you said that you have normal vitamin B12 level so it is ruled out.
Other common causes are folate deficiency, alcoholism, certain drugs, hypothyroidism. You have history of alcohol intake so it can be a cause of anemia and macrocytosis.
Chronic blood loss may be the cause but it generally leads to microcytic anemia or normocytic anemia. Still ultrasound abdomen and stool for occult blood should be done to rule out any major cause of bleeding.
You should go for folate level & TSH and ultrasound abdomen and stool for occult blood.
Please send me your complete blood count report, drug history and any other investigations you have gone through.
If we don't find the cause then bone marrow examination should be done accordingly. But its invasive procedure so first you should go for non invasive investigations.
Please give me follow up with your reports and history.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any doubts then feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.
You have macrocytic anemia and you should search the cause.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.
You have low haemoglobin and low RBC mass with high MCV. So its clear that you have macrocytic anemia.
Now there are many causes of macrocytic anemia.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is the most common cause. But as you said that you have normal vitamin B12 level so it is ruled out.
Other common causes are folate deficiency, alcoholism, certain drugs, hypothyroidism. You have history of alcohol intake so it can be a cause of anemia and macrocytosis.
Chronic blood loss may be the cause but it generally leads to microcytic anemia or normocytic anemia. Still ultrasound abdomen and stool for occult blood should be done to rule out any major cause of bleeding.
You should go for folate level & TSH and ultrasound abdomen and stool for occult blood.
Please send me your complete blood count report, drug history and any other investigations you have gone through.
If we don't find the cause then bone marrow examination should be done accordingly. But its invasive procedure so first you should go for non invasive investigations.
Please give me follow up with your reports and history.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any doubts then feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I failed to mention that my TSH was normal; that said, I've put on about 10 lbs in the past 4 months despite not change in diet or exercise so I did suspect hypothyroid. Also I've not been tested for foliate deficiency but I do take it. No drug history, alcohol history has been average of 2-3 units a week for the past 20 years, with periods of abstinence. You don't think I need a colonoscopy as my internist recommended? I will see a hematologist soon as well. How do I attach my CNBC so you can review? One more thing - if this is in fact due to alcohol will abstinence reverse it?
Brief Answer:
If it is due to alcohol then alcohol abstinence will reverse it.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
welcome back.
I have gone through your question.
I can understand your concern.
Your TSH level is normal so hypothyroidism is ruled out. No any drug history so it is also ruled out. You are taking folate so chances of folate deficiency is also less likely.
It may be due to alcohol or some causes from marrow.
Colonoscopy should be done later. First we should go for non invasive & simple test.
In female there is chance of excess menstrual bleeding or some uterine pathology also. Ultrasound abdomen is better choice first. Stool occult blood test help to rule out any gastrointestinal bleeding.
We should go stepwise. If needed we can go for colonoscopy or bone marrow examination later.
Please contact our customer care service. They will help you to upload your reports.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any doubts then feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.
If it is due to alcohol then alcohol abstinence will reverse it.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
welcome back.
I have gone through your question.
I can understand your concern.
Your TSH level is normal so hypothyroidism is ruled out. No any drug history so it is also ruled out. You are taking folate so chances of folate deficiency is also less likely.
It may be due to alcohol or some causes from marrow.
Colonoscopy should be done later. First we should go for non invasive & simple test.
In female there is chance of excess menstrual bleeding or some uterine pathology also. Ultrasound abdomen is better choice first. Stool occult blood test help to rule out any gastrointestinal bleeding.
We should go stepwise. If needed we can go for colonoscopy or bone marrow examination later.
Please contact our customer care service. They will help you to upload your reports.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any doubts then feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. I suspect macrocytic anemia also. I will ask my hematologist about an abdomen ultrasound etc. Thank you for your help! Luckily my liver seems normal based on ALT/AST etc. Again, can abstinence from alcohol reverse this if it is indeed the cause?
Oops, you responded to the abstinence question. At least that is something I can do. No need to reply; thank you again.
Oops, you responded to the abstinence question. At least that is something I can do. No need to reply; thank you again.
Brief Answer:
Yes it will reverse if it is due to alcohol.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear.
I can understand your concern.
Its good that you have normal liver function test.
Alcohol can leads to anemia despite of normal liver function test. So still it may be due to alcohol.
Alcohol abstinence leads to recover if your anemia is due to alcohol.
Hope I have answered your question. If you still have any doubts then feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic.
Wish you a very good health ahead.
Yes it will reverse if it is due to alcohol.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear.
I can understand your concern.
Its good that you have normal liver function test.
Alcohol can leads to anemia despite of normal liver function test. So still it may be due to alcohol.
Alcohol abstinence leads to recover if your anemia is due to alcohol.
Hope I have answered your question. If you still have any doubts then feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic.
Wish you a very good health ahead.
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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