Category: Acute Phase Reactants
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Neck Pain
Neck Pain is a common problem but is not as disabling as back pain even though it occurs just as often as back pain. It can be divided into two types; 1. Inflammatory Neck Pain 2. Structural Neck Pain Inflammatory Neck Pain: 1. becomes worse with rest and at night 2. often improves with activity,…
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Lyme Disease
Points to consider when you are dealing with Lyme disease: 1. Prevention is very important including using insecticide (acaricides) in the endemic areas, using protective clothing, tick repellent, checking for ticks and taking a shower within two hours of being in the tick habitat. 2. It would take two weeks for Lyme IgM to become…
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Spondyloarthritis
Spondyloarthritis is an ancient inflammatory autoimmune disease that dates back to the time of Egyptian mummies 5000 years ago. X-rays of the spine of an ancient mummified pharaoh showed evidence of spondylitis. This is unlike Rheumatoid Arthritis that can not be traced back beyond the last three hundred years. Undifferentiated Spondyloarthritis often goes undiagnosed for…
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Complete blood count with Differential (CBC with DIFF): Eosinophils
Eosinophils are not as common as the other white cells. Eosinophils are increased in: – Allergic conditions such as hay fever, rhinitis, eczema – Parasitic infections such as trichinosis, Ascariasis – Fungal infections as in aspergillosis – Autoimmune diseases such as vasculitis – Medications such as Aspirin – Lymphomas such as Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Leukemia, Mastocytosis…
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Complete blood count with Differential (CBC with DIFF): Monocytes
Monocytes are the third most common white cells (<10%). Monocytes are increased in: – Infections especially brucellosis, shingles, TB, bacterial endocarditis, Malaria – Medications such as steroids – Autoimmune diseases, sarcoidosis, – Neutropenia – Colitis – Leukemia, Lymphoma Monocytes are decreased in: – Hairy cell leukemia
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Complete blood count with Differential (CBC with DIFF): Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes are the second most common white cells (20-40%) after neutrophils. They include: – T-cells – B-cells – Natural killer Cells Lymphocytes are increased in: – Infections especially viral infections – Medications – Autoimmune disease – Overactive thyroid – Colitis – Lymphatic leukemia Lymphocytes are decreased in: – Infections – Medications such as steroids or…
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Complete blood count with Differential (CBC with DIFF): Neutrophils
Neutrophils are the most common of the white cells (60-70%). Neutrophils in circulation are mostly mature cells and are involved primarily in fighting infections. Immature Neutrophils, also called bands, appear with severe infections when there is recruitment of neutrophils mature and immature cells in a massive scale. When there are more than 10% immature neutrophils…
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Complete blood count with Differential (CBC with DIFF): Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) measures the average concentration of hemoglobin per red blood cell. It was used in the past to determine the cause of anemia. But because of its limitations, Mean Corpuscular Volume or MCV along with Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) have replaced MCHC as means of determining the cause of anemia.…
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Complete blood count with Differential (CBC with DIFF): Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) measures the average amount of Hemoglobin per single red blood cell. It was used in the past to determine the cause of anemia. But because of its limitations, Mean Corpuscular Volume or MCV along with Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) have replaced MCH as means of determining the cause of anemia.…
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Complete blood count with Differential (CBC with DIFF): Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) measures the volume of red blood cells using hematocrit and red blood cell count. It is indication of the size of the red blood cells. Normal range is between 80 and 96 depending on the individual laboratory. MCV is used along with Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) in order to determine…
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