The other labs, how important?

[pcds]

We all know about the major labs, WBC, hemoglobin, platelet, etc.  I do have to take neupogin 1x wk for my low WBC.  I copied all my labs and have them at home to refer to.  I have the following "off" labs: anisocytes 1+, macrocytes 1+, polychromasia (occasional), ovalocytes (occasional), tear drop cells (ocasional).
MCV high,MCH high, RDW high.   My doc has been shown no concern with these findings.  No suggestion of B12 as noted by others.  I am fatigued, thinking about seeing a hemotologist.  What are your thoughts?

[Diane12855]

No, they aren't. Target cells actually look like little targets... dark red outer ring, then pale inner ring then red center. A healthy cell looks like a dark red outer ring which is about 1/3 of the diameter of the cell, and a lighter center where it is concaved. We used to look at each other's blood in class, and everybody has a little bit of odd shaped cells, so I wouldn't be too worried about it. What is strange to me is, I took this course in 2002 and I did have a lot of target cells, told my family doctor and all he did was a liver panel, which came back normal, and he never checked for anything else. I could be done with this mess by now if he'd just known to check. I wish there was a way to get the doctors out there informed that liver panels don't always look bad with HCV.

Diane

[Bill1954]

I think these odd shaped red blood cells are a result of the hemolytic anemia; our bone marrow is spinning off many new cells and some may not have had time to mature, etc. I had quite a few anomalous RBC results including ‘poikilocytosis’, polychromasia; it was explained to me this was due to the anemia. I believe they will sort themselves out as time goes on; perhaps as your anemia achieves nadir.

I don’t think it’s of much concern, although it’s probably interesting to a hematologist :o)

Bill

[pcds]

Thanks for the information, yeah my RBC is low, but not critical, my HGB is a little better on my last lab, but at the low range.  All expected with tx I suppose.  So these funny shaped cells that I have are not the target cells you refer to, correct?

[Diane12855]

  I have the following "off" labs: anisocytes 1+, macrocytes 1+, polychromasia (occasional), ovalocytes (occasional), tear drop cells (ocasional).

These are just different shaped red blood cells... small, large, all red (no light center), oval and tear drop shaped. The ones that indicate liver damage are target cells... kind of strange they aren't mentioned. I never saw this on my labs, but I went to college to be a lab tech, and this was what we learned in the second semester of hematology.

You don't mention RBCs or Hgb, if they are low, it will make you feel fatigued for sure.