Re: Positive ANC and elevated sed rate in bloodwork

[Guest guest]

Hi;

I'm not sure whether you mean ANC = " absolute neutrophil count " , or

whether you are referring to ANCA which is a type of antibody often

associated with and PSC. ANCA stands for " anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic

antibodies " . But these antibodies don't seem to be of any significance

in the management of the disease!

Angulo P, JB, Gershwin ME, DeSotel CK, Shoenfeld Y, Ahmed AE,

Lindor KD 2000 Serum autoantibodies in patients with primary sclerosing

cholangitis. J. Hepatol. 32: 182-187.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10707856

Best regards,

Dave

(father of (22); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03)

>

> Anyone know anything about this? I'm being referred to a

> rheumatologist. I called my GI doc, but he says that it's not likely

> related to PSC or Crohns. I need this like I need a hole in the head!

>

> Thanks for any input you all can provide. I'm seeing the liver

> specialist next week about the PSC (my first visit). Hopefully, I'll

> feel better after that appt.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Suzanna;

An elevated sed rate means that there is probably some ongoing

inflammation, but it's not a very specific test:

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; Sed rate; Sedimentation rate

" ESR stands for erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It is a nonspecific

screening test that indirectly measures how much inflammation is in

the body. "

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003638.htm

If ANC stands for " absolute neutrophil count " (?), then an elevated

ANC might indicate an inflammation, or a bacterial infection.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_neutrophil_count

Best regards,

Dave R.

[Guest guest]

Ugh. Goes to show I shouldn't type when tired! I meant positive ANA.

Sorry!

[Guest guest]

I have enough knowledge on this to be dangerous.....

I had the high numbers you referenced. In particular, the sed rate

was through the roof...six times normal.

The other posts correctly indicated that these numbers probably

indicate some kind of inflammatory disease. Arthritis falls into that

category, so you're right to go to a rheumatologist.

In my case, I was having joint pain anyway, but I dismissed that as

par for the PSC course. After seeing the rheumatologist and

evaluating the tests, he put me on Remicade infusions. That brought

the blood test numbers back down and took the joint pain away. Plus,

Remicade is an approved treatment for crohns, so I get a double benefit.

The bottom line...go see the rheumatologist....if nothing else, that

doctor should be able to give you some answers that the gastro doc may

not be qualified to give.

Tom

PSC 99

Crohns 04

>

> Anyone know anything about this? I'm being referred to a

> rheumatologist. I called my GI doc, but he says that it's not likely

> related to PSC or Crohns. I need this like I need a hole in the head!

>

> Thanks for any input you all can provide. I'm seeing the liver

> specialist next week about the PSC (my first visit). Hopefully, I'll

> feel better after that appt.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Suzanna;

I've read that a positive ANA (antinuclear antibodies) is often associated with autoimmune hepatitis type I:

Ben-Ari Z, Czaja AJ 2001 Autoimmune hepatitis and its variant syndromes. Gut 49: 589-594.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=1728469 & blobtype=pdf

If you have been already diagnosed with PSC, then it would be tempting to suspect an autoimmune hepatitis - PSC (AIH-PSC) overlap syndrome?

Alternatively, since a positive ANA can also be associated with Systemic lupus erythematosus or Rheumatoid arthritis:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003535.htm

maybe your hepatoligist is sending you to a rheumatologist to check for these conditions?

Best regards.

Dave R.

>> Ugh. Goes to show I shouldn't type when tired! I meant positive ANA.