Oddity brushed off in lab results

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I'm at a loss as to what to think of these results. My sons ped., upon my

request had a

second hematologist read the results and no one seems concerned about it. The

ID doctor

brushed it off but said that he could be possibly anemic. His tests for anemia

came back

negative.

So my crazy question of the day... how do I know that my son was born with a

spleen? I've

been reading about how the spleen is a big contributer to the immune system.

And the

only reason I even wonder this is because the results read " post splenectomy? "

as a

possible conclusion.

So I am posting the exact text from the lab report below. I know that no one

can give me

medical advice, but just your opinion. And that is what I'm seeking. Should I

be asking to

see a rhuematologist at his next fever? I consider ourselves lucky in that

Renan fevers

approx. every 6-8 weeks. He does complain of tummy aches and joint pain but no

mouth

sores or throat irritations that he's mentioned.

Thanks as always! I truly appreciate all of your posts. Your courage is what

keeps me

researching.

--

The report reads (according to his ped.) that he is anemic but he's not anemic.

So at that

point he just brushed it off. Here is what the review says:

" Review of the peripheral smear demonstrates RBC variation, including

echinocytes, some cells suggestive of acanthocytes, occasional tear

drop shaped cells and rare smaller fragments. WBC's include

occasional cells with nuclear hyposegmentation. Occasional enlarged

platelets are noted. Clinical correlation is required. If there is

no clinical explanation (?postsplenectomy?) hemoglobin

electrophoresis could be considered, however the hemoglobin is within

the normal range. "

[Guest guest]

wow i myself have no idea what that means but could you please keep us posted

on what you find out. ask the dr. to explain it all to you. try not to

worry until they explain. char

**************

Start the year off right. Easy ways

to stay in shape.

http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

[Guest guest]

wow i myself have no idea what that means but could you please keep us posted

on what you find out. ask the dr. to explain it all to you. try not to

worry until they explain. char

**************

Start the year off right. Easy ways

to stay in shape.

http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

[Guest guest]

wow i myself have no idea what that means but could you please keep us posted

on what you find out. ask the dr. to explain it all to you. try not to

worry until they explain. char

**************

Start the year off right. Easy ways

to stay in shape.

http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

[Guest guest]

Hey ,

The reason why your report mentions something about post-splenectomy

is because the spleen is essentially the vacuum-cleaner of damaged

and dead cells within the blood, and because of the differential

seeing acanthocytes, tear-drop cells, and fragmented cells, this

suggests that the spleen is either not there or is not working

properly, as these cells are not seen in a normal person's blood at

an appreciable amount. My curiosity got the best of me, and I looked

it up to see if some people are born without spleens. It can happen,

but it is very rare. Another problem is where the spleen is present,

but not functioning correctly. You can easily determine if it is

there or not by having an ultrasound done.

Yes, the spleen does help with some immune functions, and it also

functions as a storage of platelets. When your child was still a

fetus, it functioned as part of the hematopoesis system, and made red

cells, whereas in you and me (and your child, as well), hematopoesis

occurs in the marrow. If it is still functioning hematopoetically,

then there runs the risk of hemoglobinopathies, which may be one of

the reasons why the doctor suggests a hemoglobin electrophoresis.

And finally, if your insurance pays well, you may want another smear

made from new venous blood and read by a different hematologist,

because all of the anomolies seen in the red cells can be

artificially made because of the cells sitting in the tube for too

long (echinocytes), and the smear on the slide being poorly made

(tear-drops and fragmented from probably too much pressure). Don't

take my word as some gospel. I do work in a hospital lab as a lab

technician, and spend 99% of my work-days in hematology, but maybe

these suggestions can give you some ideas! Good luck!

Liz

[Guest guest]

Hey ,

The reason why your report mentions something about post-splenectomy

is because the spleen is essentially the vacuum-cleaner of damaged

and dead cells within the blood, and because of the differential

seeing acanthocytes, tear-drop cells, and fragmented cells, this

suggests that the spleen is either not there or is not working

properly, as these cells are not seen in a normal person's blood at

an appreciable amount. My curiosity got the best of me, and I looked

it up to see if some people are born without spleens. It can happen,

but it is very rare. Another problem is where the spleen is present,

but not functioning correctly. You can easily determine if it is

there or not by having an ultrasound done.

Yes, the spleen does help with some immune functions, and it also

functions as a storage of platelets. When your child was still a

fetus, it functioned as part of the hematopoesis system, and made red

cells, whereas in you and me (and your child, as well), hematopoesis

occurs in the marrow. If it is still functioning hematopoetically,

then there runs the risk of hemoglobinopathies, which may be one of

the reasons why the doctor suggests a hemoglobin electrophoresis.

And finally, if your insurance pays well, you may want another smear

made from new venous blood and read by a different hematologist,

because all of the anomolies seen in the red cells can be

artificially made because of the cells sitting in the tube for too

long (echinocytes), and the smear on the slide being poorly made

(tear-drops and fragmented from probably too much pressure). Don't

take my word as some gospel. I do work in a hospital lab as a lab

technician, and spend 99% of my work-days in hematology, but maybe

these suggestions can give you some ideas! Good luck!

Liz

[Guest guest]

Hey ,

The reason why your report mentions something about post-splenectomy

is because the spleen is essentially the vacuum-cleaner of damaged

and dead cells within the blood, and because of the differential

seeing acanthocytes, tear-drop cells, and fragmented cells, this

suggests that the spleen is either not there or is not working

properly, as these cells are not seen in a normal person's blood at

an appreciable amount. My curiosity got the best of me, and I looked

it up to see if some people are born without spleens. It can happen,

but it is very rare. Another problem is where the spleen is present,

but not functioning correctly. You can easily determine if it is

there or not by having an ultrasound done.

Yes, the spleen does help with some immune functions, and it also

functions as a storage of platelets. When your child was still a

fetus, it functioned as part of the hematopoesis system, and made red

cells, whereas in you and me (and your child, as well), hematopoesis

occurs in the marrow. If it is still functioning hematopoetically,

then there runs the risk of hemoglobinopathies, which may be one of

the reasons why the doctor suggests a hemoglobin electrophoresis.

And finally, if your insurance pays well, you may want another smear

made from new venous blood and read by a different hematologist,

because all of the anomolies seen in the red cells can be

artificially made because of the cells sitting in the tube for too

long (echinocytes), and the smear on the slide being poorly made

(tear-drops and fragmented from probably too much pressure). Don't

take my word as some gospel. I do work in a hospital lab as a lab

technician, and spend 99% of my work-days in hematology, but maybe

these suggestions can give you some ideas! Good luck!

Liz