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What Does My Blood Test Report Indicate?
Question: hi, blood test shows all results (liver, kidney, etc) ok but my haemoglobin level is only 5.5
Brief Answer:
Needs investigation
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
a very low hemoglobin level needs investigation for its cause.
Please inform me about the details of your medical history (everything that you can remember) and be kind enough to also answer the following questions:
- did you have any bleeding recently?
- are you drinking alcohol? How much? How often?
- have you been tested for vitamin B12 and folic acid levels?
- do you have any hereditary anemia?
- do you take any drugs?
- any recent illness?
- please name the tests that have been done and were normal and also please provide the complete blood count report and a blood film report if available.
With the above information I will be able to comment on your results with a better accuracy.
Kind Regards!
Needs investigation
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
a very low hemoglobin level needs investigation for its cause.
Please inform me about the details of your medical history (everything that you can remember) and be kind enough to also answer the following questions:
- did you have any bleeding recently?
- are you drinking alcohol? How much? How often?
- have you been tested for vitamin B12 and folic acid levels?
- do you have any hereditary anemia?
- do you take any drugs?
- any recent illness?
- please name the tests that have been done and were normal and also please provide the complete blood count report and a blood film report if available.
With the above information I will be able to comment on your results with a better accuracy.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Brief Answer:
B12 deficiency or hemolytic anemia probably
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
such a low hemoglobin and hematocrit are very dangerous. The heart and other vital organs cannot receive the oxygen supply they require, particularly when the needs are higher than usual. This can cause serious problems to your health so you've got to start investigation and treatment as fast as possible.
Very low hemoglobin levels without the patient feeling much except fatigue are usually caused by low vitamin B12 levels (sometimes folic acid deficiency may cause the same). This is an easily treated condition but you should confirm it with a B12 measurement. This is the best scenario that will need only B12 replacement and won't likely require transfusions. The size of your red blood cells (69fL) is very much against this diagnosis.
Due to your recent infection, hemolytic anemia is also possible. Hemolytic anemia means that many red blood cells died before they were supposed to (within less than 120 days) so your body could not cope with the increased loss rate. The tests show that at the time the blood was drawn and the urine was sampled no hemolysis went on, so if it were hemolysis it has stopped killing your red blood cells.
Losses of iron that have not been replaced is another potential cause and your 69fL sized red blood cells could be a sign of iron deficiency. The combination of low MCV and high RDW is one more indicator of iron deficiency.
Please note that combined deficiency of iron and vitamin B12 (and/or folate) may cause a different picture with even normal red blood cell indicators like the MCV but much lower hemoglobins. Ferritin can confirm or exclude missing iron. If iron deficiency is diagnosed, investigation for its cause would also be warranted. Gastrointestinal and menstrual losses are the most common but any external bleeding (hemorrhoids?) can cause it if it is protracted or massive. Since you recall no serious bleeding this cannot be it. But please note that there are certain intestinal or stomach conditions that cause "silent" losses that cannot be seen in the stool.
If however you've ever seen black (tarry) stool then this could be the reason. Black stool means blood loss in the gastrointestinal system.
And there's also a chance for serious hematological conditions like leukemia, bone marrow depression by any cause etc.
Immediate hematologic consultation is warranted because you'll probably have to do more than blood tests. Bone marrow tests would be appropriate in your case and -as I've already mentioned- fast treatment.
I hope I've helped!
If you'd like clarifications, please use your follow-up questions to ask.
Kind Regards!
B12 deficiency or hemolytic anemia probably
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
such a low hemoglobin and hematocrit are very dangerous. The heart and other vital organs cannot receive the oxygen supply they require, particularly when the needs are higher than usual. This can cause serious problems to your health so you've got to start investigation and treatment as fast as possible.
Very low hemoglobin levels without the patient feeling much except fatigue are usually caused by low vitamin B12 levels (sometimes folic acid deficiency may cause the same). This is an easily treated condition but you should confirm it with a B12 measurement. This is the best scenario that will need only B12 replacement and won't likely require transfusions. The size of your red blood cells (69fL) is very much against this diagnosis.
Due to your recent infection, hemolytic anemia is also possible. Hemolytic anemia means that many red blood cells died before they were supposed to (within less than 120 days) so your body could not cope with the increased loss rate. The tests show that at the time the blood was drawn and the urine was sampled no hemolysis went on, so if it were hemolysis it has stopped killing your red blood cells.
Losses of iron that have not been replaced is another potential cause and your 69fL sized red blood cells could be a sign of iron deficiency. The combination of low MCV and high RDW is one more indicator of iron deficiency.
Please note that combined deficiency of iron and vitamin B12 (and/or folate) may cause a different picture with even normal red blood cell indicators like the MCV but much lower hemoglobins. Ferritin can confirm or exclude missing iron. If iron deficiency is diagnosed, investigation for its cause would also be warranted. Gastrointestinal and menstrual losses are the most common but any external bleeding (hemorrhoids?) can cause it if it is protracted or massive. Since you recall no serious bleeding this cannot be it. But please note that there are certain intestinal or stomach conditions that cause "silent" losses that cannot be seen in the stool.
If however you've ever seen black (tarry) stool then this could be the reason. Black stool means blood loss in the gastrointestinal system.
And there's also a chance for serious hematological conditions like leukemia, bone marrow depression by any cause etc.
Immediate hematologic consultation is warranted because you'll probably have to do more than blood tests. Bone marrow tests would be appropriate in your case and -as I've already mentioned- fast treatment.
I hope I've helped!
If you'd like clarifications, please use your follow-up questions to ask.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
thank you for your reply. I have started to take Vit B12 and IBERET FOLIC 500 and have done a iron blood test which the result will only be ready in a week time.
If it is caused by iron deficiency, when should i done a blood test again after taking IBERET?
Also, sometimes I feel tingling on my arms, is it also one of my anemia symptoms?
thank you for your help.
If it is caused by iron deficiency, when should i done a blood test again after taking IBERET?
Also, sometimes I feel tingling on my arms, is it also one of my anemia symptoms?
thank you for your help.
Brief Answer:
Tingling can be related to it
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
it would be better if you could measure your vitamin B12 and folic acid before continuing with treatment so that you would know the cause. Sometimes B12 cannot be absorbed by mouth and injections are needed (once a month).
If it's iron deficiency then a good time to check again would be about a month later. You should see your hematocrit rising. The total treatment (by mouth) will last about 6 months depending on hematocrit and ferritin measurements and perhaps depending on the cause of iron deficiency.
If it's the B12 or folate also (or alone) then a new complete blood count along with reticulocyte count and potassium levels would be needed a few days after treatment initiation. B12 replacement may cause rapid production of red blood cells and serum potassium depletion.
Tingling (related to the anemia) can be caused by either the severity of the anemia or (if it had been there for a long time and B12 is missing) by neural damage due to B12 deficiency. Treatment and symptom progression will probably clarify these things soon.
I hope I've presented my opinion in clear way.
If you are still left with questions, please ask again.
I'll be glad to help.
Kind Regards!
Tingling can be related to it
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
it would be better if you could measure your vitamin B12 and folic acid before continuing with treatment so that you would know the cause. Sometimes B12 cannot be absorbed by mouth and injections are needed (once a month).
If it's iron deficiency then a good time to check again would be about a month later. You should see your hematocrit rising. The total treatment (by mouth) will last about 6 months depending on hematocrit and ferritin measurements and perhaps depending on the cause of iron deficiency.
If it's the B12 or folate also (or alone) then a new complete blood count along with reticulocyte count and potassium levels would be needed a few days after treatment initiation. B12 replacement may cause rapid production of red blood cells and serum potassium depletion.
Tingling (related to the anemia) can be caused by either the severity of the anemia or (if it had been there for a long time and B12 is missing) by neural damage due to B12 deficiency. Treatment and symptom progression will probably clarify these things soon.
I hope I've presented my opinion in clear way.
If you are still left with questions, please ask again.
I'll be glad to help.
Kind Regards!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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