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Blood tests- could someone tell me what they might be looking for?

(3 posts)

  1. virtual insanity
    Member

    I know this is broad, but if you can shed some insight, I'd be grateful. I have googled them, but thought someone might have medical knowledge here. I have a follow-up with my doctor, but it takes a while for some of these tests to return from the lab. I know he suspects an issue with my clotting.

    Lupus anticoagulant (okay, I know this one)
    Factor V Leiden
    Factor VIII
    Homocysteine
    Prothrombin mutation
    Protein C, S
    Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase
    PTT
    Prothrombin Time
    Antiphospholipid AB
    CBC auto diff (I know what this is also).

    My symptoms and fatigue and petechiae (that has lasted three + weeks).
    Thank you both so much. That was exactly what I was looking for in an explanation.

    I haven't had trauma and I am not on any sort of medication.

    I appreciate both of you for taking the time to help me understand what my doctor was testing.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  2. Ashley
    Member

    So fatigue is a very general symptoms as I am sure you know. Petechiae only happen for a few reasons. One is trauma, but it does not sound like that is the problem with your or you would know that. The other thing petechiae can indicate is thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) or platelet dysfunction. This can be caused by certain medications but it can also be caused by problems with clotting factor deficiencies or by increased platelet destruction. There are a number of different diseases that can cause these things and a lot of these blood tests will help your doctor to distinguish what might be going on. Lupus anticoagulant, Factor V Leiden, antiphospholipid Ab, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductse, Protein C, and Protein S: problems with these would generally make you more prone to clotting and to have issues with lots in your legs or your lungs or other places. Factor VIII deficiencies are seen in hemophilia so increased issues with bleeding. Hemophilia is, however, very very rarely seen in women because it is an X-linked disease. A protrombin mutation could cause problems with your platelets so that is likely why that is being checked. A prothrombin time checks the extrinsic clotting pathway. Prolongation can be seen in the use of certain blood thinning drugs as well as in DIC or disseminated intravascular coagulation. So with these tests he is checking for a lot of different things. Specific diseases with low platelets and petechiae may include idiopathic thrombocytopenia (ITP), Lupus, Antiphospholipid syndrome, Bernard Soulier syndrome and many others. I guess I wasn't sure what you are specifically looking for so I hope this helps.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  3. Aly
    Member

    Many of these tests are looking at the time it takes your blood to clot and how it clots. The CBC is a complete blood count. the DIFF is breaking down what kind of white blood cells and red blood cells there are. The Prothrombin time (PT) and PTT are clotting times. Factor V and VIII are factors in a clotting cascade there fore looking at if they are the cause of the petechiae. The protein C,S is looking at coagulation. homocystine looks at atherosclerosis ( hardening of the veins and arteries), antiphospholipid AB is a helper to diagnose lupus. The only one I couldn't find in my book was methylenetetrahydrofolate. Hope this helps

    Posted 1 year ago #

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