Lab results - looking for opinions [PLEASE READ 1ST POST]

ironsurfer10 said:I’ve previously mentioned issues with my urine and dysmorphic erythrocytes (which made up 85% of my last result). Recently, during routine checks, items that used to be negative keep popping up, and there's always something new. A few months ago it was proteins, and now it's ketones.
I don't see a nephrologist for another six months. Should I do anything in the meantime before my appointment? Blood tests for systemic diseases came back negative.

Ma'am,

In this report, the only significant finding is the persistent erythrocyturia—essentially microhematuria—and likely borderline proteinuria. This warrants the nephrological follow-up you have scheduled, but it isn't an emergency. You don't need to take any immediate action, though you might consider a 24-hour urine protein test along with creatinine clearance and eGFR if those haven't been done yet.

A single ketone cross in your urine could simply indicate fasting, especially since glucose is negative; there are no signs here suggesting diabetes.

The Goldman Sachs results still fall within a range considered normal (according to medical literature, an INR of 0.8 - 1.1 is standard for someone not on anticoagulant therapy). I'm not sure why both of your parents required anticoagulants—perhaps atrial fibrillation?—but based on this specific data, there's nothing to suggest you are headed down that same path.

I can't comment on iron or ferritin because the values aren't listed.

Henry Ross88 said:Hi there, could you please interpret and explain these results for me?
HLA TEST RESULTS

Class I/HLA-A *03 *24
Class I/HLA-B *40 *55
Class I/HLA-C *03
Class II/HLA-DRB1 *08 *13
Class II/HLA-DQB1 *04 *06

Thanks in advance for the help.

Hello,

What specific condition are we looking for, or why was this test ordered in the first place? Looking at these markers alone doesn't point to a definitive diagnosis. While certain profiles might suggest a predisposition to certain issues, almost any HLA marker can be linked to some level of increased risk. Without knowing the clinical context, I have nothing concrete to focus on. Please provide more details on what we're investigating.

Maria Fisher46 said:Hello,

The only significant finding here is the persistent erythrocyturia—meaning microscopic hematuria—and likely some borderline proteinuria. This does warrant a follow-up with a nephrologist, which is what you're already planning, but there’s nothing urgent here and nothing else you need to do right now. You might want to consider a 24-hour urine protein test along with creatinine clearance and eGFR if those haven't been done yet.

Seeing one ketone in your urine could simply indicate fasting, especially since the glucose levels are negative, which suggests there aren't any signs of diabetes.

Regarding the Federal Reserve-related lab values (specifically the clotting factor metrics), they still fall within a range that could be considered normal (a value of 0.8 - 1.1 is generally considered the standard range for someone not on anticoagulant therapy). I'm not sure why both of your parents required anticoagulants—perhaps atrial fibrillation?—but based on this specific result, it doesn't look like you're headed toward that same path.

I can't comment on the iron and ferritin levels because I don't see the actual numbers.

Hi there,
thanks for getting back to me. That part about the blood work was definitely a relief. My dad passed away from an aneurysm, and my mom dealt with "blood clotting issues" for a long time—her words, anyway—so I assume it was thrombophilia. That’s really why I was feeling a bit anxious.
As for the nephrology side of things, all my other results are fine, aside from the urinalysis and the presence of those dysmorphic erythrocytes.

I've attached the info for the iron and saturation levels here; I didn't realize it hadn't uploaded in my last post.

Sent from my SM-G770F using Reddit

Maria Fisher46 said:Look,

what specific condition are we actually looking for here—or rather, why was this test ordered in the first place? I’m struggling to see a definitive link to any particular disease from these results alone. It might suggest a slight predisposition toward certain issues, but then again, almost any HLA marker can be tied to some kind of increased risk if you look hard enough. I really need a bit more direction on what specifically I should be analyzing here.

Hi there,

my doctor sent me for this because of constant neck pain and this pulsing sensation in my cerebellum. I also happen to deal with ulcerative colitis, which is an autoimmune issue.

Hey everyone...
I’ve been dealing with some kind of syndrome linked to electrolyte imbalances. About a month ago, I caught COVID, and ever since, I’ve been under a ton of stress and sleeping terribly. I’ve always lived with a baseline of anxiety and occasional panic attacks, but COVID definitely dialed that up to eleven. On top of that, migraines accompanied by vertigo have basically been my lifelong shadow. Since getting sick, I’ve been feeling this constant pressure in my head, so my neurologist sent me in for an EEG. I was hoping someone here could help me make sense of the results, because the wait time to actually see my specialist is months away. One thing to note: I had a mild panic attack right before the test—could that mess with the readings?
Here’s the report:

Low to medium voltage baseline cerebral activity is present within the local alpha frequency.
Visual blocking response is weakly expressed.
During the recording, there are superimposed sharp waves bilaterally in the temporo-occipital regions.
No paroxysms were observed.
No analogous changes on HV.

Conclusion: Findings show mild bilateral posterior irritative changes.

Since January 2020, I’ve been dealing with these red bumps that seem to flare up and then vanish on the fingers of my right hand—usually accompanied by some swelling around them. My doctor has sent me for blood work several times to check for things like rheumatoid arthritis or something along those lines; I can't recall her exact wording, just that it was something in that realm.

Anyway, here are my two sets of lab results. Do these point toward any kind of arthritis, or perhaps something else entirely?


Here is what the bumps look like:


More photos can be found here:

View on imgur

ironsurfer10 said:To whom it may concern,
thanks for the reply. The bit about the Federal Reserve was a relief. My father passed away from an aneurysm, and my mother dealt with "blood clotting issues" for years—her words, anyway. I assume she had thrombophilia, which explains my anxiety.
Regarding the nephrologist, everything looks normal except for the urinalysis and the presence of those dysmorphic erythrocytes.

Attaching the Fe and saturation levels here; I didn't realize they failed to upload in the last post.
Sent from my SM-G770F using Reddit

To the lady,

you have sideropenia (I'll assume hemoglobin levels are normal since they weren't provided). Given the urogenital bleeding, that's likely the culprit.

With ferritin concentrations sitting below 15 ug/L, it meets the WHO definition for deficiency.

As for treating sideropenia, the first step is dietary adjustment. Aim for meat, poultry, or fish at least five days a week, supplemented by legumes and leafy greens. After that, we look at iron supplements.

Henry Ross88 said:To whom it may concern,

My doctor referred me due to persistent neck pain and pulsing sensations in the cerebellum. I also live with ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune condition.

I would argue that HLA typing won't provide an answer regarding the cause of constant pain. You'll need to pursue other avenues, such as seeing a physical therapist or a neurologist. Looking at the HLA results, I don't see anything linked to the symptoms you described.

ironpanther42 said:Hi there...
I'm dealing with some symptoms related to electrolyte imbalances. I had COVID about a month ago, and since then, I've been under a lot of stress and struggling with sleep. Generally, I deal with constant anxiety and occasional panic attacks, which COVID likely amplified. Migraines accompanied by vertigo are a constant in my life, but during this bout of COVID, I felt this pressure in my head, so my neurologist sent me for an EEG. I'm asking if anyone can help interpret these results, as I won't see my specialist for a few months. One thing to note: I had a mild panic attack while waiting for the exam—could that influence the results?
The findings are:

Low to medium voltage baseline cerebral activity is present within the local alpha frequency.
Reaction to visual stimulation is weakly expressed.
During recording, sharpened peaks occur bilaterally in the temporo-occipital regions.
No paroxysms observed.
No analogous changes on HV.

Conclusion: Findings show slight irritative changes bilaterally in the posterior regions.

Hello,

This EEG result is non-specific. It suggests heightened irritability in the posterior areas of the brain, which aligns with the clinical picture you've described (insomnia, anxiety, recent viral infection...). I don't see any reason for urgent intervention based on this report. Because the findings are non-specific—meaning they could be attributed to a wide range of conditions or disorders—they should only be interpreted as part of your total medical evaluation.

David Flores68 said:Since January 2020, I've been dealing with red bumps appearing and disappearing on my right fingers, accompanied by swelling around them. My doctor has sent me for blood work several times to check for things like rheumatoid arthritis or something similar—I can't recall the exact terminology she used.

Anyway, here are these two lab results. Do they point toward some kind of arthritis or anything else in general?
https://i.postimg.cc/xC3gkqsf/oba-reuma-nalaza.jpg

This is what the bumps look like:
https://i.postimg.cc/VsgTNsHs/prst-3.jpg

More photos here:

View on imgur

Hello,

The changes in these photos don't look like typical rheumatoid nodules, nor do they resemble Heberden's or Bouchard's nodes.

A differential diagnosis is quite broad here, especially without an in-person examination. Your best move might be seeing a dermatologist first, then scheduling a biopsy of the area to identify the cause. Given the location on the fingers, you'll likely need a surgeon to perform it.

If you don't mind me asking, what is your profession? Are you frequently exposed to cold or other physical stressors?

Maria Fisher46 said:Dear user,

The changes shown in these photos don't quite present like rheumatoid nodules, nor do they look like Herbert's or Bouchard's nodes.

The differential diagnosis is actually quite broad—especially since I can't perform an in-person examination. Perhaps the best course of action would be to consult a dermatologist first, followed by scheduling a biopsy of these lesions to determine exactly what we're dealing with; given that fingers are such a tricky spot for a biopsy, you'll likely need a surgeon to handle that part.

If you don't mind me asking, what do you do for a living? Are you frequently exposed to extreme cold or any other physical stressors?

Thanks for getting back to me!

Well, there's a bit of a backstory here, so I'll try to keep it concise:

I'm not professionally exposed to the cold or anything of that nature—I'm currently unemployed and spend most of my time at a computer—but something potentially relevant is that in late 2019, I was performing scalp massages. They were extremely vigorous on my fingers, and while I was doing them, I could often hear popping sounds coming from my finger and hand joints.

I did this for a few weeks, and then in January 2020, my fingers swelled up for the first time—though, at that stage, there were no nodules. It looked like this.



That lasted about a week before subsiding, but after a while, those nodules appeared along with the swelling around them. The nodules would recede after a couple of days, and just as one round cleared up, a new set of 3 to 8 nodules would pop up.

There are a few more details to share, but I won't overdo it with the text; I'll leave it at that.

Maria Fisher46 said:Hi there,

The EEG results aren't really pointing to one specific thing. They show some overactive activity in the temporal lobes, which honestly fits right in with what you've been dealing with—the insomnia, the anxiety, and that recent infection. I don't see any reason to panic or rush into anything based on this alone. Since these findings are pretty vague and could be caused by all sorts of different things, they only really make sense when looked at alongside your entire medical history.

THANKS for the reply!

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some insight on why a gastroenterologist might order a 25-OH Vitamin D test. After dealing with iron deficiency and abdominal pain, I went through a full workup—including a colonoscopy, endoscopy, and MR enterography—but everything came back normal, aside from some GERD, gastritis, and a hiatal hernia. I finished iron supplementation, which successfully cleared up the anemia. My tumor markers have also been consistently normal at both the ten-month and three-month check-ins. Generally, my blood work is fine, except for these specific outliers:

25-OH vitamin D - 14.7 (75-100)
Alpha 2 globulins 6.5 (7-11)
Beta globulins 4.9 (9-14)
Beta globulin part II - 3.5 (6-10)
Alanine aminotransferase 44 (10-36)

My thyroid has been stable and under control for three months now since I stopped medication for hyperthyroidism. Urine tests are clear. However, I've been dealing with daily hives since August and am waiting for my first dermatology appointment; all my immunoglobulin levels are within range. Stool tests were negative for H. pylori. I’m currently waiting on blood culture results and fecal calprotectin.

I maintain a healthy weight (leaning toward thin), don't drink alcohol or caffeine, and don't smoke. For medication, I take Elice 1 x and Letizen 1-2x for the hives.

Apologies for the long post, and thanks in advance for any help.

Hannah Stewart27 said:Greetings, I would appreciate some clarification on why a gastroenterologist might order a 25-OH Vitamin D test. Following a diagnosis of iron deficiency and persistent abdominal pain, I underwent a full gastrointestinal workup, including a colonoscopy, endoscopy, and an MR enterography; none of these procedures revealed anything out of the ordinary, aside from some GERD, gastritis, and a gastric hernia. I completed iron supplementation, which successfully resolved the anemia with excellent results. All tumor markers have remained normal through the tenth month and again three months later. In short, my complete blood count is unremarkable except for certain deviations in the following values:

25-OH Vitamin D - 14.7 (Target range: 75-100)
Alpha 2 globulins 6.5 (7-11)
Beta globulins 4.9 (9-14)
Beta globulin part II - 3.5 (6-10)
Alanine aminotransferase 44 (10-36)

My thyroid function, following a previous hyperthyroidism diagnosis, has been stable and under control for three months now that I have discontinued medication. Urine analysis is normal. However, I have dealt with daily hives since August and am currently awaiting my first appointment with a dermatologist; all immunoglobulin levels are within normal limits. Stool tests were negative for H. pylori. I am still waiting on the results for fecal blood cultures and calprotectin.

My weight is normal, leaning toward being thin, and I do not consume alcohol, caffeine, or smoke. Regarding medication, I take Elice 1 x and Letizen 1-2x for the urticaria.

My apologies for the lengthy post, and thank you in advance.

I am no medical professional, but I once dealt with similarly low Vitamin D levels and spent years struggling with various issues before realizing Vitamin D was the root cause. For starters, resolve that deficiency; ask your primary care physician to prescribe some drops.

Hannah Stewart27 said:Hi everyone, I was hoping someone could help me understand why a gastroenterologist would order a 25-OH Vitamin D test. To give you some background, I’ve been dealing with iron deficiency and abdominal pain, so I went in for a full workup. My specialist ordered a colonoscopy, an endoscopy, and an MR enterography. Thankfully, everything came back clear—nothing unusual was found, aside from some GERD, gastritis, and a hiatal hernia. I started iron supplementation, and that actually worked quite well; my anemia issues were resolved after a short period, and my levels look great now. On top of that, all my tumor markers have been normal—first at the ten-month mark and again three months later. Basically, my entire blood panel looks solid, with the exception of a few specific deviations in the following values:

I just got my latest lab results back, and it looks like my 25-OH Vitamin D levels are sitting at 14.7 ng/mL. Given that the standard reference range is typically between 75 and 100 ng/mL, I’m definitely coming in quite a bit low. It’s a little humbling to see those numbers on paper, especially when you think you've been doing everything right, but I suppose it's just one of those things I need to address. I'll likely need to look into some supplementation or adjust my routine to get this back into a healthier bracket.
My Alpha-2 globulin levels came back at 6.5, while the standard reference range is listed between 7 and 11. It’s a little bit lower than what they usually look for, which is always a bit unsettling to see on a lab report. I'm trying to stay calm about it, but I'm definitely keeping an eye on it.
My beta globulin levels came back at 4.9, while the standard reference range is typically between 9 and 14. It’s a bit lower than what I was expecting to see on the report.
Beta globulin levels came back at 3.5, which is sitting a bit below the standard reference range of 6 to 10.
Alanine aminotransferase: 44 (Normal range: 10-36)

Since being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, my thyroid levels have been looking good and have stayed under control for about three months now, so I’ve stopped taking medication. My urinalysis came back normal, too. However, I’ve been dealing with daily hives since August, and I’m currently waiting on my first appointment with a dermatologist. On the bright side, all my immunoglobulin levels are within the normal range. A stool test for H. pylori also came back negative. Right now, I'm just waiting on the results from my blood cultures and a fecal calprotectin test.

I have a relatively normal weight—leaning more toward being on the slimmer side. I don't drink alcohol, I stay away from caffeine, and I've never been a smoker. As far as medications go, I take Elice 1 x and one to two doses of Letizen daily to manage some urticaria.

My apologies for the long post, and thanks in advance.

redranger2 said:I’m certainly no doctor, but I dealt with the exact same thing—my Vitamin D levels were incredibly low, and for years, I struggled with a constant string of health issues without ever realizing that the deficiency was actually the root cause. If I were you, I'd start by getting that sorted out. Just head over to your primary care physician and see if they can prescribe some high-dose drops to get your levels back where they need to be.

I’m certainly no doctor, but I should mention that after struggling with a vitamin D deficiency for quite a while, I found that taking D Vital supplements worked much more effectively for me than the liquid drops did.

Maria Fisher46 said:Hello there,

It looks like you have sideropenia (I'll assume your hemoglobin levels are normal since they weren't provided, though they should be checked). Given the context of urogenital bleeding, that is most likely the underlying cause.

Since your ferritin concentration is below 15 ug/L, it qualifies as low according to the WHO definition.

Regarding treatment for sideropenia, the first step involves dietary adjustments—specifically incorporating meat, poultry, or fish at least five days a week, alongside legumes and leafy greens. After that, iron supplements can be introduced.

Thank you so much for such a detailed response! Honestly, sticking to a diet with meat is going to be quite a challenge for me since I'm vegan, but I am trying my best to boost my iron through nutrition and various plant-based supplements for now. Currently, the only animal-derived supplement I take is Vitamin D; I tend to overdo it a bit, but once my levels reach a satisfactory range, I plan to switch entirely to plant-based sources.
Thanks again,

Thanks so much!

David Flores68 said:It lasted about a week before it subsided, then these lumps with swelling started popping up around them. The lumps would fade after a few days, but just as one batch cleared, a new set of 3 to 8 would show up.

It’s a complex situation, but nothing here points clearly toward a single diagnosis. It’s time to start the diagnostic process. If you aren't dealing with joint swelling right now—as I mentioned previously—I’d say the smartest first move is seeing a dermatologist, followed likely by scheduling a biopsy.

Hannah Stewart27 said:Hello, I am looking for some clarification on why a gastroenterologist would order a 25-OH Vitamin D test. Following a diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia and abdominal pain, I underwent a full workup with a specialist. This included a colonoscopy, endoscopy, and an MR enterography; none showed anything abnormal aside from GERD, gastritis, and a hiatal hernia. I started iron supplementation, which successfully resolved the anemia. All tumor markers have been normal for ten months, and remain so after three months. In short, my blood work is mostly fine, except for these specific values:

25-OH vitamin D - 14.7 (ideal range: 75-100)
Alpha 2 globulins 6.5 (7-11)
Beta globulins 4.9 (9-14)
Beta globulin part II - 3.5 (6-10)
ALT 44 (10-36)

My thyroid has been stable and under control for three months since stopping medication following a hyperthyroidism diagnosis. Urine tests are normal. I have dealt with daily hives since August and am waiting for my first dermatology appointment; all immunoglobulins are within normal limits. Stool tests were negative for H. pylori. Currently awaiting stool culture results and calprotectin levels.

I am at a normal weight (leaning toward thin), don't drink alcohol, don't consume caffeine, and I don't smoke. My current medications are Elice 1 x and Letizen 1-2x for the urticaria.

Apologies for the long post, and thanks in advance.

Ma'am,

A low beta fraction in serum protein electrophoresis is typically linked to malnutrition or inadequate protein intake. That said, it can also be tied to liver or kidney issues, or perhaps hypolipoproteinemia. A decreased alpha-2 fraction often stems from similar causes—malnutrition, intestinal loss, or liver disease.

The common denominator for this profile, especially when paired with low Vitamin D, could be malabsorption.

I believe you may have asked this before, and I gave a similar answer.

@Nicholas Myers Thanks for getting back to me. And honestly, sorry about my last post—it was pretty brief and didn't really cover much. I’m attaching my son's lab results here, starting from when he was first diagnosed with distal renal tubular acidosis through to his most recent ones. Regarding that redness mentioned in the last discharge summary, it's completely cleared up now.

https://ibb.co/LrsV9g7
https://ibb.co/F0t2Kwc
https://ibb.co/8r7tRxB

Greetings,

I am seeking some insight regarding my elevated lymphocyte counts and decreased
neutrophil granulocytes, specifically concerning what follow-up testing might be necessary.

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis about ten years ago.
I haven't started medication because my TSH levels have remained within the normal range thus far.
I am wondering if this condition could potentially trigger these specific drops:
neutrophil granulocytes
current results: 28.9 rel % (44-72); over the last few years, they were 37.0 and 40.4
1.40 10*9/L (2.06 - 6.49); previously, it was 1.90
alongside high lymphocyte counts—55.5 rel % (20 - 46); previously, it was 50.0

My doctor didn't explicitly draw a connection between the two, though he did make a passing comment about neutropenia and its potential causes.
Additionally, he sent me for a urine culture due to a persistent, recurring urge to urinate that I still can't quite account for; in the past, I was even seen by Ninur Nolicin because of elevated white blood cell counts in my urine (ranging from 10-15, 10-12, to 12-17).
My father noted everything seemed fine from a gynecological standpoint, yet now my doctor is sending me back for more exams and swabs since they weren't performed previously.