ALPHA 1 GLOBULIN + MCV + MCH at higher than normal

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JoGal - 29 Nov 2003 10:24 GMT

Hello,

I had blood tests done recently and was wondering if anyone had any
idea what these things mean. I had the first cbc done which showed
MCV, MCH, as high and RBC as low. At that point the doctor said this
is common in someone who drinks to much or doesn't process b12. I
don't drink at all so he did another test and my b12 is fine. He
mentioned at this first appt that it could be a pre-leukiemia
condition.

After amonth he repeated the cbc and some other test that went to a
different lab. So now I have MCV, MCH still high, RBC within normal
range and the Alpha 1 Globulin is high. My cholesterol levels are high
but not as high as a year+ ago (lower by 50 or so).

Here are the things that were not in normal ranage:

CALCIUM     10.7 H     mg/dL     8.3-10.5 prior
CHOLESTEROL     280 H         mg/dL     135-200 prior
LDL (Calc.)         184 H         mg/dL     <130 prior
VLDL (Calc.)     42 H        mg/dL     0-40 prior
TRIGLYCERIDES     212 H         mg/dL 3        5-180 prior
MCV             102.1 H     fL         82.0-97.0 prior
MCH            34.3 H     pg         27.0-34.0 prior
ALPHA 1 GLOBULIN 0.22 H         g/dL         0.13-0.21

ALPHA 1 INCREASED. THIS MAY REPRESENT AN ACUTE PHASE REACTANT
*Test performed at: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Anyway, I have to wait till Monday before I can talk to my doctor
(they e-mailed me these results) and I was hoping someone might have a
clue what this indicates. As "pre-leukiemia condition" was mentioned
by my doctor naturally I am a little anxious :)

Thanks,

JoGal

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blader - 29 Nov 2003 13:52 GMT

Look at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003540.htm
for info on Alpha 1 globulin.

Your cholesterol levels are the ones that are out of range
significantly. The alpha 1 globulin is barely out of range, and there
are so many variables in tests that it may not mean much.

Bruce, who's not medically trained and not giving medical advice

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ES - 29 Nov 2003 15:50 GMT

Pre-Leukemia!???? None of these values suggest that. If your blood is
sent out to a reference lab, and not performed right away, then that
might explain the high MCV. Red Cells begin to swell after a few
hours. I would recheck that calcium though.

>Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>
>JoGal

Reply to this Message

Robert - 29 Nov 2003 21:39 GMT

> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>
> JoGal

You make no mention as to why these tests were undertaken in the first
place. Keep in mind that a diagnoses is reached based on history and
physical exam in over 80 percent of cases. The lab only plays a role in
about 5-10% of cases. Most of the time the lab supports a diagnosis already
made.
When it is a part of a normal annual physical then chances are higher that
you can get bizarre artifactual or benign reactive processes.
Do you smoke? It has been shown that smoking can slightly increase your
MCV.
The other one that needs to checked is hypothyroidism where MCV can be
elevated as are lipids and as the hypothyroidism is treated the MCV
decreases.
Are you taking any medications like blood pressure, dilantin etc.? Analgesic
use?
What is your age as I see a somewhat contradiction here?
Preleukemia is generally a disorder in the elderly. Lipid screens are
generally undertaken in the young to prevent coronary syndromes. It is
better to have a higher cholesterol when old, if you haven't developed heart
problems by then you won't. Low cholesterol is bad in this age group.
There is a certain percentage of people where the origin of the high MCV is
undetermined.
For hospitalized patients a high MCV is so common that one reference states
such workups are not indicated unless the MCV reaches more than 10% of the
upper limit of normal. In this case 97 plus 9.7 or 106.7.
Sometimes there are clues in looking at the blood. Siderocytes are iron
containing RBC's and are abnormal and would warrant a bone marrow exam.
Your doctor might suggest a hematological consultation where that would be
one option.
Good luck to you

Reply to this Message

JoGal - 29 Nov 2003 23:15 GMT

> > Hello,
> >
[quoted text clipped - 38 lines]
> about 5-10% of cases. Most of the time the lab supports a diagnosis already
> made.

I was rear ended in a car accident and went to the doctor just to get
checked out. I mentioned to him that I generally hurt all over much of the
time but that it was a little worse after getting hit. I don't know what
prompted his ordering the first cbc.

> When it is a part of a normal annual physical then chances are higher that
> you can get bizarre artifactual or benign reactive processes.
> Do you smoke? It has been shown that smoking can slightly increase your
> MCV.

Yes I do smoke.

> The other one that needs to checked is hypothyroidism where MCV can be
> elevated as are lipids and as the hypothyroidism is treated the MCV
> decreases.
> Are you taking any medications like blood pressure, dilantin etc.? Analgesic
> use?

I take ibuprofin regularly, 800 mg a day usually.

> What is your age as I see a somewhat contradiction here?

54 years. My cholesterol was considerably higher 1 1/2 years ago and I have
lost nearly 40 lbs during the past 3 years.

> Preleukemia is generally a disorder in the elderly. Lipid screens are
> generally undertaken in the young to prevent coronary syndromes. It is
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> one option.
> Good luck to you

Thank you for taking the time to respond so kindly... JoGal

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