Is A Low Anion Gap A Serious Cause For Concern?
Question: I received a blood test result that shows low agap level of 3 (normal being 5 and up). I'm worried about this being related to certain cancers. Can I provide you with my full blood results and have your opinion? Please see below
General Chemistry
Sodium Lvl
138 mmol/L Sodium Lvl
Reference Range:137 mmol/L - 145 mmol/L
Potassium Lvl
5.1 mmol/L Potassium Lvl
Reference Range:3.5 mmol/L - 5.1 mmol/L
Chloride
103 mmol/L Chloride
Reference Range:98 mmol/L - 107 mmol/L
CO2
32 mmol/L (High) CO2
Reference Range:22 mmol/L - 30 mmol/L
BUN
15 mg/dL BUN
Reference Range:7 mg/dL - 17 mg/dL
Creatinine
0.81 mg/dL Creatinine
Reference Range:0.52 mg/dL - 1.04 mg/dL
Glucose Lvl Random
114 mg/dL Glucose Lvl Random
Reference Range:65 mg/dL - 140 mg/dL
Calcium Lvl
9.8 mg/dL Calcium Lvl
Reference Range:8.4 mg/dL - 10.2 mg/dL
AGAP
3 mmol/L (Low) AGAP Reference Range:5 mmol/L - 15 mmol/L
GFR XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
> 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 GFR XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
GFR Non XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
> 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 GFR Non XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Urinalysis
POC Urinalysis Glucose
Negative POC Urinalysis Glucose
POC Urinalysis Bilirubin
Negative POC Urinalysis Bilirubin
POC Urinalysis Ketone
Negative POC Urinalysis Ketone
POC Urinalysis Specific Gravity
1.010 POC Urinalysis Specific Gravity
POC Urinalysis Blood
Negative POC Urinalysis Blood
POC Urinalysis pH
7 POC Urinalysis pH
POC Urinalysis Protein
Negative POC Urinalysis Protein
POC Urinalysis Urobilinogen
0.2 mg/dl (normal) POC Urinalysis Urobilinogen
POC Urinalysis Nitrite Negative POC Urinalysis Nitrite
POC Urinalysis Leukocyte
Small (+) POC Urinalysis Leukocyte
General Chemistry
Sodium Lvl
138 mmol/L Sodium Lvl
Reference Range:137 mmol/L - 145 mmol/L
Potassium Lvl
5.1 mmol/L Potassium Lvl
Reference Range:3.5 mmol/L - 5.1 mmol/L
Chloride
103 mmol/L Chloride
Reference Range:98 mmol/L - 107 mmol/L
CO2
32 mmol/L (High) CO2
Reference Range:22 mmol/L - 30 mmol/L
BUN
15 mg/dL BUN
Reference Range:7 mg/dL - 17 mg/dL
Creatinine
0.81 mg/dL Creatinine
Reference Range:0.52 mg/dL - 1.04 mg/dL
Glucose Lvl Random
114 mg/dL Glucose Lvl Random
Reference Range:65 mg/dL - 140 mg/dL
Calcium Lvl
9.8 mg/dL Calcium Lvl
Reference Range:8.4 mg/dL - 10.2 mg/dL
AGAP
3 mmol/L (Low) AGAP Reference Range:5 mmol/L - 15 mmol/L
GFR XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
> 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 GFR XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
GFR Non XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
> 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 GFR Non XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Urinalysis
POC Urinalysis Glucose
Negative POC Urinalysis Glucose
POC Urinalysis Bilirubin
Negative POC Urinalysis Bilirubin
POC Urinalysis Ketone
Negative POC Urinalysis Ketone
POC Urinalysis Specific Gravity
1.010 POC Urinalysis Specific Gravity
POC Urinalysis Blood
Negative POC Urinalysis Blood
POC Urinalysis pH
7 POC Urinalysis pH
POC Urinalysis Protein
Negative POC Urinalysis Protein
POC Urinalysis Urobilinogen
0.2 mg/dl (normal) POC Urinalysis Urobilinogen
POC Urinalysis Nitrite Negative POC Urinalysis Nitrite
POC Urinalysis Leukocyte
Small (+) POC Urinalysis Leukocyte
Brief Answer:
Blood, urine and bone marrow biopsy test
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Your AGAP of 3 mmol is low.Other parameters are within normal range.
It means you are having low anion gap and it occurs from the presence of abnormal positively charged proteins
Low AGAP can occur in from a cancer condition called multiple myeloma.
Multiple myeloma is blood cancer that develops in the plasma cells found in the soft spongy tissue at the center of your bones called bone marrow
I would advise you to do blood and urine tests as well as a bone marrow biopsy. Consult your doctor regarding these tests.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have more queries i will be glad to help.
Regards,
Dr. Monish De
Oncologist
Blood, urine and bone marrow biopsy test
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Your AGAP of 3 mmol is low.Other parameters are within normal range.
It means you are having low anion gap and it occurs from the presence of abnormal positively charged proteins
Low AGAP can occur in from a cancer condition called multiple myeloma.
Multiple myeloma is blood cancer that develops in the plasma cells found in the soft spongy tissue at the center of your bones called bone marrow
I would advise you to do blood and urine tests as well as a bone marrow biopsy. Consult your doctor regarding these tests.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have more queries i will be glad to help.
Regards,
Dr. Monish De
Oncologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Are there no other reasons that my agap level would be low? Is it most likely cancer? There were no proteins found in my urine.
Brief Answer:
Blood test for calcium, magnesium, TSH and vitamin-D
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Other causes of low AGAP level could be hypercalcemia, hyperparathyroidism, hypermagnesemia and excess Vitamin D
I would advise you to do a blood test for calcium, thyroid stimulating hormone, magnesium and vitamin D.
Also, bone marrow biopsy is a must to rule out multiple myeloma.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards.
Dr. Monish De
Oncologist
Blood test for calcium, magnesium, TSH and vitamin-D
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Other causes of low AGAP level could be hypercalcemia, hyperparathyroidism, hypermagnesemia and excess Vitamin D
I would advise you to do a blood test for calcium, thyroid stimulating hormone, magnesium and vitamin D.
Also, bone marrow biopsy is a must to rule out multiple myeloma.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards.
Dr. Monish De
Oncologist
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D