What are the implications of elevated hematocrit levels. How does high hematocrit affect cardiovascular health. What are the connections between hematocrit, hypertension, and blood disorders. How can healthcare providers effectively manage patients with high hematocrit and related conditions.

The Hematocrit Test: A Key Indicator of Blood Health

The hematocrit test is a crucial diagnostic tool that measures the percentage of red blood cells in a person’s blood sample. This simple yet informative test can provide valuable insights into various aspects of an individual’s health, particularly related to blood disorders and cardiovascular conditions.

A normal hematocrit range typically falls between 36% and 46% for women and 41% to 53% for men. Values outside this range can indicate underlying health issues that require further investigation and potential treatment.

What Does the Hematocrit Test Measure?

The hematocrit test specifically measures the proportion of red blood cells in relation to the total blood volume. This measurement is expressed as a percentage and reflects the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen throughout the body.

• Red blood cell percentage
• Blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity
• Potential signs of blood disorders or other health conditions

Decoding High Hematocrit Levels: Causes and Implications

Elevated hematocrit levels, also known as polycythemia, can be a sign of various underlying health conditions. Understanding the potential causes of high hematocrit is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Common Causes of Elevated Hematocrit

Several factors can contribute to increased hematocrit levels:

1. Dehydration
2. Living at high altitudes
3. Smoking
4. Lung diseases
5. Congenital heart defects
6. Polycythemia vera (a blood disorder)

Is dehydration a common cause of temporarily elevated hematocrit? Yes, dehydration can cause a temporary increase in hematocrit levels as the blood becomes more concentrated due to fluid loss. This is typically resolved once proper hydration is restored.

The Link Between High Hematocrit and Hypertension

Research has shown a significant correlation between elevated hematocrit levels and an increased risk of hypertension, particularly in men. This connection underscores the importance of monitoring hematocrit levels as part of overall cardiovascular health assessment.

Mechanisms Linking Hematocrit and Blood Pressure

The relationship between high hematocrit and hypertension involves several physiological mechanisms:

• Increased blood viscosity
• Reduced nitric oxide availability
• Altered blood flow dynamics
• Potential endothelial dysfunction

How does increased blood viscosity contribute to hypertension? Higher blood viscosity due to elevated hematocrit levels can increase peripheral resistance in blood vessels, requiring the heart to work harder to pump blood, thus potentially leading to higher blood pressure.

Polycythemia Vera: A Hematologic Condition with Cardiovascular Implications

Polycythemia vera is a rare blood disorder characterized by the overproduction of red blood cells. This condition not only results in elevated hematocrit levels but also significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular complications, including hypertension.

Polycythemia Vera and Its Impact on Blood Pressure

The excess red blood cells produced in polycythemia vera can interfere with normal blood flow and vascular function:

• Increased blood volume and viscosity
• Reduced vasodilatory effects of nitric oxide
• Potential platelet activation and thrombosis risk

Can treating polycythemia vera help manage hypertension? Yes, managing polycythemia vera through treatments like phlebotomy can often help alleviate associated hypertension by reducing the overall red blood cell count and improving blood flow dynamics.

The Role of Platelets in Hypertension and Thrombosis Risk

While hematocrit primarily reflects red blood cell concentration, the role of platelets in hypertension and associated thrombosis risk should not be overlooked. Platelet activation plays a crucial role in the development of blood clots, which can be exacerbated by hypertension.

Platelet Activation and Cardiovascular Events

Understanding the interplay between hypertension and platelet activation is essential for comprehensive cardiovascular risk management:

• Hypertension can contribute to endothelial damage
• Damaged endothelium may trigger platelet activation
• Activated platelets increase the risk of thrombosis
• Thrombosis can lead to serious cardiovascular events

How do anti-hypertensive medications affect platelet activation? While the primary goal of anti-hypertensive medications is to lower blood pressure, some drugs, such as ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers, may also have indirect effects on reducing platelet activation, thus potentially lowering thrombosis risk.

Managing High Hematocrit and Hypertension: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Effectively managing patients with high hematocrit levels, especially when accompanied by hypertension, often requires a collaborative approach between hematologists and cardiologists. This multidisciplinary strategy ensures comprehensive care that addresses both blood disorders and cardiovascular health.

When to Consult a Cardiologist

Hematologists should consider consulting a cardiologist in the following scenarios:

• Persistently elevated blood pressure despite treatment
• Concerns about cardiovascular complications
• History of stroke or high stroke risk
• Complex medical history or multiple comorbidities

Why is age an important factor in managing hypertension and hematologic conditions? Age is a significant risk factor for both hypertension and hematologic malignancies. As patients age, the likelihood of developing these conditions increases, making regular monitoring and collaborative care even more crucial.

Treatment Strategies for High Hematocrit and Associated Conditions

Managing high hematocrit levels and related conditions like hypertension often involves a multifaceted approach. Treatment strategies may vary depending on the underlying cause and the presence of comorbidities.

Therapeutic Options for Elevated Hematocrit

Several treatment options are available for managing high hematocrit levels:

1. Phlebotomy (for conditions like polycythemia vera)
2. Hydration therapy
3. Lifestyle modifications (e.g., quitting smoking, altitude adjustments)
4. Medications to address underlying conditions

Hypertension Management in Patients with Hematologic Conditions

Treating hypertension in patients with hematologic disorders requires careful consideration:

• Anti-hypertensive medications (e.g., beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors)
• Antiplatelet therapy (e.g., aspirin) when appropriate
• Regular monitoring of blood pressure and hematocrit levels
• Addressing underlying hematologic conditions

How does phlebotomy help in managing polycythemia vera and associated hypertension? Phlebotomy, or the controlled removal of blood, can effectively reduce the overall red blood cell count in patients with polycythemia vera. This reduction in blood volume and viscosity can lead to improvements in blood pressure and overall cardiovascular health.

Future Directions in Hematocrit and Cardiovascular Research

As our understanding of the relationship between hematocrit levels, blood disorders, and cardiovascular health continues to evolve, new avenues for research and treatment are emerging. Future studies may focus on developing more targeted therapies and improving risk prediction models.

Potential Areas of Future Research

Several promising areas of investigation could enhance our ability to manage high hematocrit and related cardiovascular risks:

• Genetic markers for hematocrit regulation and hypertension susceptibility
• Novel therapeutic targets for managing blood viscosity
• Advanced imaging techniques for early detection of cardiovascular complications
• Personalized medicine approaches for tailored treatment strategies

How might personalized medicine impact the management of high hematocrit and hypertension? Personalized medicine approaches could allow healthcare providers to tailor treatments based on an individual’s genetic profile, lifestyle factors, and specific disease characteristics, potentially leading to more effective and targeted interventions for managing high hematocrit and associated cardiovascular risks.

In conclusion, understanding the implications of high hematocrit levels and their relationship to hypertension and other cardiovascular risks is crucial for effective patient care. By adopting a multidisciplinary approach and staying informed about the latest research and treatment options, healthcare providers can better manage these complex conditions and improve patient outcomes. Regular monitoring, appropriate interventions, and ongoing research will continue to shape our approach to managing high hematocrit and its associated health risks in the years to come.

Managing High Blood Pressure: The Cardiologist’s Perspective | ASH Clinical News

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John J. Ryan, MD, FACC, FAHA

Assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah

Do you treat many patients for hypertension who also have hematologic malignancies?

We definitely do, and obviously, some of that prevalence is due to age. As we age, the risk of developing hypertension increases, and, unfortunately, so does the risk of developing hematologic malignancies.

The common risk factor in many of these circumstances is age.

When and how should the hematologist consult the cardiologist in the management of patients with hypertension?

Because hypertension is so common, it can be difficult to determine the appropriate moment to reach out for a consult or a referral to a cardiologist. High blood pressure also carries an increased risk of cardiovascular consequences such as strokes, heart attacks, and heart failure, among others.

If a hematologist is uncomfortable managing a patient with high blood pressure, he or she should refer to the cardiologist; for instance:

• if the blood pressure is persistently elevated despite best efforts
• if there is concern about complications from the high blood pressure, such as damage to the heart
• if the hematologist is worried about a patient’s risk of stroke, or if the patient has had a stroke in the past

Patients with hematologic malignancies are sometimes referred to the tertiary care centers for their cancer treatments, and, in that setting, the staff may be unfamiliar with the patient’s background and full cardiac history; in that circumstance, again, it’s reasonable to get the cardiologist involved.

Ultimately, when patients are undergoing treatment for a hematologic malignancy, it’s important that the clinician not lose sight of the fact that he or she may have or have previously had high blood pressure.

Does hypertension contribute to a greater risk for blood clots and thrombosis? What is the role of the platelet in this?

Hypertension does increase the risk of having a clinical event, as well as organ damage; many of these effects are mediated through the development of clots.

So, yes, hypertension does contribute to a patient’s thrombotic risk. As hematologists know, most clots are developed through platelet activation; how hypertension interacts with platelet activation is very challenging. There are two general approaches to treating hypertension and its clinical consequences: anti-hypertensive agents (such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers) to lower the blood pressure, and antiplatelet agents (such as aspirin) to inhibit platelet aggregation and lower the risk of the associated clinical events.

Ultimately, what we try to do is prevent the clinical consequence of this platelet activation. We can know that platelets are activated, but that activation becomes much more important when the patient has a clinical event (a heart attack, a stroke, etc.). With anti-hypertensive medications, therefore, the goal is to decrease the risk of the clinical consequences of platelet activation.

Are there causes of high blood pressure potentially related to hematologic conditions?

The overproduction of red blood cells and high hematocrit levels associated with polycythemia vera can contribute to systemic hypertension; high hematocrit levels have been found to interfere with the vasodilatory effects of nitric oxide. The treatment of polycythemia, which can involve phlebotomy, can alleviate the systemic hypertension, as well as the physiological consequences of having a high red blood cell count.

Again, I have to stress that the common risk factor is age, and, with the aging population, both hypertension and hematologic malignancies are increasingly more common. Clinicians need to remember that none of this is happening in a vacuum. We need to be cognizant that, when we are caring for a patient and see another issue that we are uncomfortable with, we can ask for help.

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High blood hematocrit increases the risk of the incidence of hypertension in men | European Heart Journal

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European Heart Journal, Volume 34, Issue suppl_1, 1 August 2013, 4461, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/eht310.4461

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01 August 2013

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Objectives: Little is known on the relationship between blood hematocrit (Hct) level as an estimate of whole blood viscosity and the risk of hypertension. We investigated the relationship of high Hct level with incident hypertension in men during a mean follow-up of 5 years.

Methods: Subjects were 3620 men (mean age 48±6 yrs) who participated in two health examinations during 1998-2009. All subjects were free of hypertension without the use of antihypertensive medication and within the normal range of Hct (39∼50%) at baseline examination. The incidence of hypertension was defined as blood pressure values exceeding 140/90mmHg of systolic and diastolic blood pressure at time of follow-up examination.

Results: During 17,856 person-years of follow-up, 351 new cases of hypertension were developed. Blood Hct was inversely associated with the incidence of hypertension across the tertiles of Hct (7.2% of low, 10.4% of the moderate, and 11.4% of high, P for trend, <0.05). The relative risk (RR) of incident hypertension in men with high Hct versus men with low Hct was 1.47 (95% confidence interval, CI, 1. 11-1.95) after adjustment for confounding factors. Every one percent (1%) increment in Hct was associated with 7% (RR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.13) higher incidence of hypertension after adjusting for risk factors. Men whose Hct increased over time had a 25% increased risk of developing hypertension (RR 1.25, 95% CI, 1.01–1.57) compared with men with decreased Hct after adjustment for risk factors.

Conclusions: These results demonstrate that high hematocrit levels, even within the normal range, were causally associated with the incidence of hypertension independent of other risk factors in men.

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Blood test in Novosibirsk in Novosibirsk, 🏥 prices

Taking a blood test is the first thing that a specialist will prescribe after a medical examination. A general blood test is included in all standards for diagnosing diseases.

Blood is an amazing, absolutely unique, connective tissue of the body’s internal environment. It is the first to react to changes in the body, has an immune component in its composition, and many diseases can be diagnosed by changes in it.

Composition of blood

In its structure, blood has two parts – liquid (plasma) and formed elements suspended in it (blood cells – erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets).

Blood plasma consists of water (90%) and protein compounds. These include:

• albumins – a protein that determines the osmotic pressure of the blood (that is, it does not allow fluid to escape into the surrounding tissues), a carrier protein for substances such as bilirubin, fatty acids, bile acids, drugs;
• globulins – proteins that determine the body’s immune response, blood clotting, are responsible for the transfer of iron;
• fibrinogen – responsible for blood clotting.

Blood also contains: Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, which directly affect the cardiac cycle and regulate heart contraction, amino acids, urea, creatinine, ammonia, glucose, fatty acids, cholesterol. Blood plasma contains gases – oxygen, carbon dioxide. As well as hormones, vitamins, enzymes, inflammatory mediators.

Formed elements, represented by erythrocytes, platelets and leukocytes.

Complete blood count (CBC)

Complete blood count includes: determination of blood cells (erythrocytes, platelets, leukocytes), hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocyte indices (MCV, RDW, MCH, MCHC), ESR.

Erythrocytes

Erythrocytes (red blood cells) are iron-containing cells. Their main function is the transportation of gases, due to the hemoglobin that is part of it. The binding of hemoglobin with oxygen occurs in the lungs, then, the blood, traveling through the vessels, gives oxygen to the tissues. After hemoglobin binds to carbon dioxide, the blood returns to the lungs, the cycle repeats. The lifespan of an erythrocyte is about 120 days.
Norm: for men (4.0 – 5.1) x1012 / l; in women (3.7 – 4.7) x1012 / l.

Hematocrit

Hematocrit is the volume of blood occupied by erythrocytes in the total blood volume. The hematocrit level changes with: a disorder of the blood coagulation system, dehydration, anemia or polycythemia.

Norm: in men 0.40-0.48, in women – 0.36-0.46.

Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is a protein containing iron. Found in all erythrocytes.
Norm: men 130-170 g/l, women 120-150 g/l.

Erythrocyte indices

Erythrocyte indices are calculated indicators of erythrocytes that allow determining the type of anemia.
MCV is the average volume of one erythrocyte.
MCH – the average content of hemoglobin in an erythrocyte.
MCHC – the average concentration of hemoglobin in erythrocytes.

RDW – distribution of erythrocytes by volume.

A decrease in red blood cells and/or a decrease in hemoglobin is called anemia. There are iron deficiency, B12 deficiency, folic acid deficiency, posthemorrhagic, aplastic, hemolytic and anemia of chronic diseases. There are many reasons for anemia. Anemia causes systemic hypoxia and, accordingly, requires therapeutic measures to correct it.

An increase in the level of red blood cells is called erythrocytosis. It may be an indirect sign of dehydration, a sign of chronic hypoxia, appear with congenital heart disease, smoking, kidney disease, etc. Also, erythrocytosis is observed with true polycythemia.

Platelets (platelets) – together with fibrinogen, provide blood clotting. When a vessel is damaged, blood clots form, thereby stopping the bleeding.
Norm: for men and women 180-320×109/l

Platelets

Thrombocytopenia – a decrease in the level of platelets. As a rule, it is manifested by bleeding gums, nosebleeds and an increased tendency to bruise. May be a symptom of blood diseases, appear with increased platelet utilization by the spleen, with increased thrombus formation (for example, with viral infections, including COVID-19 or PE).

Thrombocytosis is an increase in platelets. The causes may be autoimmune diseases, infections, malignant tumors of the body, dehydration, some types of anemia, treatment with systemic glucocorticosteroids. With elevated platelet levels, there is a risk of thrombosis.

Leukocytes

Leukocytes (white blood cells) are part of the immune system. Protection against foreign antigens, viruses, bacteria, parasites, etc. Cells play an important role in fighting infections, inflammation, and allergic reactions.
Normal: in men and women 4-9×109/l

Leukopenia – a decrease in the level of leukocytes. It occurs in severe infectious, inflammatory, autoimmune diseases. The level of leukocytes is used to judge the body’s immune system, so, in some cases, immunosuppression, including that caused by HIV infection, can be suspected.

Leukocytosis – an increase in the level of leukocytes. Appears against the background of infections, both viral and bacterial.

Lymphocytes

Lymphopenia is a decrease in the level of lymphocytes, usually associated with viral infections.

Lymphocytosis – an increase in the level of lymphocytes, occurs against the background of the course of viral infections.

Eosinophils

Eosinopenia – a decrease in eosinophils, occurs with increased production of adrenal hormones, taking hormonal drugs, allergic reactions.

Eosinophilia is an increased content of eosinophils as a result of allergic, parasitic diseases.

Neutrophils

Neutropenia – a decrease in the level of neutrophils, the most common variant of leukopenia, occurs in infectious diseases, taking certain medications.

Neutrophilia – an increase in neutrophils, the cause is bacterial infections, suppurative processes.

Agranulocytosis is the almost complete disappearance of neutrophils in the blood. Occurs against the background of taking cytostatics, thyreostatics, some NSAIDs, the action of radiation. Increases the body’s susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections.

Monocytes

Monocytopenia – a decrease in the level of monocytes, occurs with acute infections or long-term use of glucocorticoids.

Monocytosis is an increase in monocytes due to infections.

Basophils

Basophilia is an increase in basophils, a very rare condition. The causes of basophilia are allergic, inflammatory, oncohematological diseases.
Also, there are tumor diseases of the blood (leukemia, lymphoma), which are accompanied by leukocytosis.

ESR

ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is a phenomenon based on the ability of erythrocytes to settle freely under the influence of gravity in blood that is unable to clot.

ESR acceleration is a non-specific laboratory marker. May be a sign of an inflammatory, infectious, autoimmune or tumor disease of the body.
Norm: for men 1-10 mm/hour, for women 2-20 mm/hour.

What UAC shows

UAC is an analysis that shows the general condition of the body and helps the specialist to suspect the presence of certain diseases in the body.

What does CBC show:

• the presence of inflammation in the body;
• infectious diseases;
• allergic reactions;
• changes in the blood coagulation system;
• determination of anemia and its type, monitoring of the dynamics of anemia treatment;
• indirect signs of certain diseases.

Blood sampling

The test can be taken either from a vein or from a finger. It should be noted that blood sampling from a vein is a more accurate and preferable technique, since when sampling from a finger, the leukocyte count may be distorted.

Biochemical blood test

Biochemical blood test – a blood test that reflects the functioning of internal organs (liver, kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder, etc.). With it, you can get data on metabolism (carbohydrate, protein, fat metabolism).

Blood glucose

Glucose is the main source of energy for metabolic processes in the body.

Rates

Rate: 3.3-5.5 mmol/L.

Elevated glucose levels are a sign of a serious illness, diabetes mellitus or impaired carbohydrate metabolism (impaired glucose tolerance).

Reduced glucose level is a dangerous condition, primarily for the brain, hypoglycemic coma (against the background of inadequate insulin use) can be a serious consequence of a decrease in glucose.

Total protein

Total protein – the content of all protein fractions, an indicator of protein metabolism. A decrease in total protein indicates malnutrition, liver disease, and may decrease in severe infectious diseases. A decrease in protein occurs with excessive fluid retention in the circulating blood (for example, with kidney disease, heart disease).

Norm

Norm: 65-85 grams/l.

Bilirubin

Bilirubin is a breakdown product of hemoglobin, which is part of bile. It is contained in the blood in the form of two fractions: free and bound.

An increase in bilirubin may indicate an increased breakdown of hemoglobin, an increased destruction of red blood cells (hemolytic jaundice), a change in the excretion of bilirubin due to disorders in the bile duct system.

General bilirubin – indicates a general disturbance in the bilirubin metabolism system.

Used for differential diagnosis of conditions accompanied by yellowness of the skin and sclera.

Norm

Norm: 8.5-20.55 µmol/l.

Cholesterol

Total cholesterol – a reflection of the body’s lipid metabolism, the total content of all cholesterol fractions. An increase in cholesterol signals an increase in cardiovascular risk (risk of strokes, heart attacks), atherosclerosis. In some cases, it can be a sign of kidney disease. The reasons for this laboratory deviation can be varied – from nutritional errors to endocrine disorders.
Norm: from 3.6 mmol/l to 5.0 mmol/l.

ALT (alanine aminotransferase) is a liver enzyme that assesses the state of the organ.
An increase indicates liver disease, inflammation.

Norm

Norm: 7-41 IU/l.

AST

AST (aspartate aminotransferase) is an enzyme found in all cells in the body that is specific to the liver.
According to its increase, the function and diseases of the liver are judged, especially in the ratio of AST / ALT.

Norm

Norm: 10-38 IU/l.

GGTP

GGTP (gamma-glutamyl transpeptitase) is an enzyme found in the liver and pancreas.
With its increase, one speaks of liver diseases (cell necrosis, alcohol intoxication, liver damage from drugs.

Norm

Norm: in men – 15-106 µmol/l, in women – 10-66 µmol/l.

ALP

ALP is an enzyme that takes part in the exchange of phosphorus
An increase in the enzyme occurs when hormonal contraceptives are used in women, with osteoporosis, bone tissue diseases, liver diseases (bile duct obstruction).

Norm

Norm: 20 to 140 IU/l.

Alpha-amylase

Alpha-amylase is a pancreatic enzyme. Its increase indicates an acute inflammatory process in the organ (acute pancreatitis or exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis).
Norm: 25 – 125 U / l.

Urea

Urea is a protein breakdown product. An increase in the level of urea may indicate the accumulation of metabolic products in the body due to disruption of the excretory system (for example, kidney disease).

Creatinine

Creatinine is a blood indicator, together with urea, which provides data on the functional state of the kidneys.

Calcium, sodium, potassium, chlorine

Calcium, sodium, potassium, chlorine – blood electrolytes that maintain the constancy of the internal environment of the body. They regulate metabolism, support the work of enzymes, influence the transmission of impulses in the nervous tissue, the transport of substances into the cell, such as glucose, amino acids, etc.

C-reactive protein

C-reactive protein is a protein indicating an acute inflammatory process in the body.
Norm: 0-10 mg/l, with a highly sensitive method less than 3 mg/l.

How do I prepare for a blood test?

Biochemical blood test is taken in the morning on an empty stomach. Between the last meal and blood sampling, the time interval is at least 8 hours. Eliminate smoking 60 minutes before taking the test. Also donate blood before taking medications.

For analysis, venous blood is taken, in a volume of 5-8 ml, and placed in a clean, dry test tube. The term for completing the study for the basic set of indicators is up to three working days.

Price of a blood test

90 278

9 0279 Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)

Indicator	Cost (rubles)
Blood sampling	150
Clinical blood test: general analysis, leukoformula, ESR (with microscopy of a blood smear in the presence of pathological changes) (Clinical Blood Analysis: General Blood Analysis, Leucocyte Formula, ESR (with Microscopic Examination of Blood Smear if Presence of Pathologic Changes))	480
Clinical Blood Analysis: General Blood Analysis, Leucocyte Formula, ESR (with Manual Microscopic Examination of Blood Smear))	530
General Blood Analysis without White Blood Cell (WBC) Count and ESR	185
formula (differentiated leukocyte count, leucocytogram) with microscopy of a blood smear in the presence of pathological changes (Leucocyte Formula (Differential White Blood Cell Count) with Microscopic Examination of Blood Smear if Presence of Pathologic Changes) *	185
Leucocyte Formula (Differential White Blood Cell Count) with Manual Microscopic Examination of Blood Smear)*	185 9 0280
ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, ESR)	150
Total cholesterol (Cholesterol) (Chole sterol Total)	200
Protein Total (Protein Total)	175
Creatinine (Creatinine) 283
Urea (Urea)	175
Total bilirubin (Bilirubin Total)	175
Bilirubin direct (Bilirubin conjugated, bound) (Direct Bilirubin, DBIL, Conjugated Bilirubin)	175
AT, ALT, glutamino-pyruvic transaminase, GPT) (Alanine Aminotransferase, ALT, Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase, SGPT)	175
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST, Serum Glutamicoxaloacetic Transaminase, SGOT)	175
Alpha-amylase (alpha-amylase, diastase) (Alpha -Amilase)	220
Gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT, glutamyltranspeptidase) (Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase, GGT)	175
175
Serum potassium/sodium/chlorine (K+/Potassium, Na+/Sodium, Cl-/Chloride, Serum) total (Ca) (Calcium Total)	185
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)	305

Take a blood test in Novosibirsk at the Apex clinic

Clinic ” APEX” provides sampling both in the clinic and and at home.

Collection of biological material for the necessary analyzes occurs:

Monday-Sunday from 07:00 to 16:00.

Blood donation with home visits

Home visits are available from 07:00 to 14:00.
Field service takes blood and smears, takes urine, feces.

You can take most of the requested tests at home.
Specify the available list of studies with the operator when ordering.

Applications are accepted and processed from 7:00 to 22:00.

When applying, be sure to indicate:

• desired time for testing and arrival of a specialist;
• list of required laboratory tests;
• address of your home or office.

What numbers from a blood test “hide”: a hematologist explains . We asked Olga Molostova, a hematologist, an expert of the Tinkov Family Foundation, to answer the most important questions about blood and how an ordinary person can understand the tests.

Read Hi-Tech in

It is important that everyone can read their own blood test results for themselves. Not in order to diagnose yourself, but in order not to worry and not wind yourself up, learn to listen to your body and ask the right questions to your doctor.

Why do I need a blood test?

Complete blood count (CBC) is a study that accompanies us from birth and throughout life. Physical examinations, scheduled annual visits to the doctor, pregnancy and childbirth, health disorders and diseases – all this is a reason to take blood from a finger or vein.

Complete blood count is the main assistant of any doctor. His tasks:

• Check your general health.
• Diagnose disease.
• Monitor disease progression.
• Monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

Two UAC decryption rules

Rule #1. Not all deviations in the UAC matter. For example, if you are generally healthy and have no signs or symptoms of disease, a slightly abnormal CBC result may not be cause for concern. In such a case, special follow-up may not be required.

Rule #2. Complete blood count is by no means a definitive diagnostic test. Depending on the reason your doctor recommended you have a CBC, results outside the normal range may indicate the need for follow-up and further testing. For a correct interpretation of the pronounced changes in the KLA, the doctor will need to talk with you and carefully study not only the results of this analysis, but also the data of other, additional studies. These can be both other blood tests and other research methods, for example, instrumental: ultrasound, computed tomography, and many others. In some cases, if your results are significantly above or below the normal range, your therapist may immediately refer you to a doctor who specializes in blood diseases – a hematologist.

The doctor does not treat abnormalities in the complete blood count

Main conclusion: the doctor does not treat abnormalities in the general blood test. The doctor treats a specific disease of an individual patient, which can be established using a complete blood count, a detailed conversation with the patient about his symptoms, and additional laboratory and instrumental tests.

Why be able to decipher a complete blood count?

Of course, the final verdict on the values ​​obtained in the KLA must remain with the doctor. However, a basic knowledge of what the analysis shows can be very helpful. And above all, in order to competently conduct a conversation with a doctor in any situation and do not hesitate to ask him questions that interest you.

Understanding what our blood is made of and how it works will allow you to be more attentive to your tests, make it possible to pre-evaluate the indicators and compare them with your well-being. You will learn to understand if you need to speed up your next visit to the doctor or you can not worry and calmly wait for a regular consultation.

What can you learn from a complete blood count?

Complete blood count measures the quantity and quality of the main indicators of our blood. These are:

• Red blood cells (RBCs) are red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body.
• Leukocytes (WBC) are white blood cells that fight infection.
• Platelets (PLT) are platelets that help blood clot and stop bleeding.

In addition, with the help of OAC it is possible to estimate:

• The amount of hemoglobin (Hb) – a protein that is contained in red blood cells and is responsible for transporting oxygen.

• Hematocrit (HCT) is the ratio of the number of red blood cells to the liquid component of the blood, i.e. plasma.
• Various qualitative characteristics of blood cells: the volume of erythrocytes and platelets, the ratio of different types of leukocytes.

Learning to decipher your blood test

Let’s not go into medical jungle and deal with basic indicators and concepts in order.

Reference range: it should be relevant for your gender and age

Each indicator has its own reference range – two values ​​within which the blood values ​​of most people on Earth fall. The reference range (or interval) has an upper and lower limit, also called normal limits. Reference range varies:

• For different UAC indicators.
• For different genders.
• For all ages.

That’s why the tube with the blood sample comes to the laboratory marked with the gender and age of the patient.

Be sure to note that not all laboratories issue an analysis with a reference range for a specific patient age: this primarily concerns children and may be a cause for concern for parents. Therefore, when obtaining an analysis, you first need to assess whether the reference range will be relevant for your age and gender. To do this, you need to carefully read in the resulting conclusion everything related to the field of reference values. It should be borne in mind that there are exceptions everywhere and 5% of people in the world have individual indicators. They will differ from the accepted reference values ​​and this is the norm for them. This norm can be determined by several consecutive studies of the UAC and the exclusion of possible causes of deviations.

RBC count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit

RBC, hemoglobin, and hematocrit are related because they each measure aspects of red blood cells.

Please note that if these three areas are below normal, anemia may be suspected. And this should be a mandatory question for your doctor. Anemia has many causes – it can be a low level of certain vitamins or iron, chronic blood loss. Also, anemia may not be an independent disease, but a consequence of another disease.

Normal hemoglobin levels vary with age and gender. For example, the lower limit of the norm for the hemoglobin of a three-month-old baby is 95 g / l and at this level of hemoglobin there is no cause for concern, while the lower limit of the norm for an adult woman is 120 g / l, and everything below the reference value can speak about her being anemic.

There are special tables of norms for indicators by age, and it is they that need to be guided by when assessing the level of hemoglobin, erythrocytes and hematocrit.

Also important in the diagnosis of anemia are MCV – the average volume of an erythrocyte, MCH – the average content of hemoglobin in an erythrocyte, MCHC – an average concentration of hemoglobin in an erythrocyte, RET – reticulocytes (an early form of erythrocytes). These indicators reflect the characteristics of the entire population of erythrocytes and are used both for the initial diagnosis of the type of anemia and for monitoring during its treatment. Their interpretation is rather complicated and requires medical experience.

RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit are related because they each measure aspects of RBC

An increased number of red blood cells (erythrocytosis) or high hemoglobin or hematocrit may indicate diseases such as polycythemia vera, malignant diseases. Exceeding the age norm in such cases should be persistent and significant. In people who smoke and have chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, hemoglobin may be slightly increased – this is a consequence of the compensatory work of the body suffering from hypoxia and is not dangerous in itself, but requires attention from the cause that causes this increase.

White blood cell count

Low white blood cell count – leukopenia – may be due to a recent infectious disease, as well as an autoimmune process, due to which the body’s own immune system can mistakenly destroy one of the types of white blood cells – neutrophils. This is a fairly common situation among young children, less often among adults, and most often does not require any intervention, provided there are no other symptoms. Less often, leukopenia can be caused by hematological or oncological diseases, in such cases it will most often be accompanied by other changes in the analysis. Leukopenia can be caused by certain drugs, in particular, chemotherapy drugs used to treat malignant diseases, strict diets.

The level of leukocytes is higher than normal – leukocytosis – may indicate the presence of a focus of inflammation in the body or the course of a general infectious process. Many people know that leukocytosis can indicate oncohematological diseases. However, before sounding the alarm, evaluate your health and consult your doctor, because a high white blood cell count can also be a reaction to various medications.

The white blood cell count has its own reference values ​​for different ages. If you received an analysis in which a high or low white blood cell count, first of all you need to pay attention to age. The younger the owner of the analysis, the higher the norm for him, which decreases with age. The most common cause of deviations in the number of leukocytes are infectious diseases, if they are not severe, the deviations will be moderate, and after a few days or weeks the analysis will return to full normal.

Leukocyte formula

If there are abnormalities in the level of leukocytes, it is necessary to pay attention to the leukocyte formula. The fact is that all leukocytes are divided into several types, each of which performs its own special functions:

• Neutrophils (segmented and stab) – independently destroy bacteria, attract other leukocytes to the inflammation site.

• Lymphocytes are responsible for the production of antibodies and cellular memory, they destroy pathogens by releasing various biologically active substances.
• Monocytes — cleanse the focus of inflammation by absorbing particles of spent leukocytes and pathogens.
• Eosinophils are responsible for allergic reactions and respond to parasitic diseases.
• Basophils help other white blood cells work in a variety of ways.

The number of types of leukocytes is considered an automatic analyzer. The analyzer produces two values ​​- absolute and percentage. First of all, the absolute value plays a role in the evaluation of the analysis. Normal absolute values ​​and slight shifts in percentages are a variant of the norm. As well as minor shifts in absolute values.

Leukocytes do not live long in the body and react quickly to any changes that occur to us. If shortly before the analysis you ate or experienced stress, the level of leukocytes will increase – this is how the body prepares for the fact that it can get into difficult conditions for it, and this is absolutely normal. Such leukocytosis is called physiological, and most often with it the level of all types of leukocytes increases simultaneously. If leukocytosis is a consequence of the disease, the deviation of each type of leukocyte from the norm will be different.

If your analyzer shows significant abnormalities, you may be ordered to have a WBC count under a microscope. In this case, the doctor will put a drop of blood on a glass slide, and carefully examine all the cells in the field of view. This analysis is necessarily performed with very high leukocytosis and allows you to reliably assess the composition of leukocytes. In the smear, immature granulocytes can be detected – metamyelocytes, myelocytes, promyelocytes, which appear in the blood under the influence of infectious-inflammatory or myeloproliferative diseases. Also in the formula, it is possible to identify cells that normally should not be at all – anaplastic blast cells, which may be a sign of oncohematological disease.

Any appearance of cells atypical for the blood formula is not a diagnosis, but is a reason to consult a specialist.

Platelet count

A platelet count that is below normal (thrombocytopenia) or above normal (thrombocytosis) is often a sign of an underlying disease or may be a side effect of medication. If your platelet count is outside the normal range, you will likely need additional tests to diagnose the cause.

The platelet count also depends on age. However, for this indicator, the difference in reference values ​​for different ages is small.

The main causes of increased platelets can be: infection, iron deficiency anemia, hemolysis, trauma, cancer. Platelets will be increased in people who have undergone removal of the spleen, since normally most of the platelets are in it, as in a depot.

Thrombocytosis can also be mediated by malignant disease of the myeloid lineage of the bone marrow, such as essential thrombocytosis and chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Thrombocytopenia can be caused by various reasons: increased consumption of platelets (massive trauma, sepsis, thrombosis, bleeding, hemolytic-uremic syndrome), a decrease in their production in the bone marrow (viral infections, intoxication, drug therapy, aplastic anemia, oncohematological diseases), increased destruction of platelets in immune diseases, hereditary thrombocytopenia.

If thrombocytopenia is detected, the first thing to do is to retake the test or perform a platelet count in a blood smear – this is done to rule out false pseudothrombocytopenia, which can occur in vitro due to interaction with an anticoagulant.

How accurate are CBC results?

Proper analysis virtually eliminates possible errors. However, in medicine it is quite difficult to achieve absolute accuracy and there are situations that can distort the final result of the analysis. These can be clots in the tube if there were difficulties with blood sampling, destruction of blood cells (hemolysis) in the tube due to too much pressure of the tourniquet on the arm, or improper storage or transportation of tubes.

The main rule: do not worry, read and initially analyze your own tests and prepare a list of questions for your doctor. Only a doctor will help you finally understand and dispel all your doubts. And if necessary, together with you, he will pay attention to the details and prescribe additional studies.