Interpreting bloods Flashcards
What important info will a FBC give you
WBC RCC Hb Haematocrit MCV Platelet count Neutrophils
What does raised WBC indicate
infection
What does lowered WBC indicate
Pancytopenia
Autoimmune disorders
Patients undergoing chemotherapy
Bone marrow damage/condition
What do raised RCC indicate
polycythemia
What do lowered RCC indicate
Anaemia
Heart failure
Congenital heart diseases
What does raised Hb indicate
polycythaemia
What does lowered Hb indicate
Anaemia
Thalassaemia (low/no Hb produced – genetic)
What does a raised haematocrit indicate
Myeloproliferative disorders
What does a lowered haematocrit indicate
Anaemia
Blood cell cancers
Long term illness and infection
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
What does an increased MCV indicate
Macrocytic anaemia (low B12 and folate)
What does a lowered MCV indicate
Microcytic anaemia (low iron and thalassaemia)
What does an increased MCH indicate
Macrocytic anaemia
What does a lowered MCH indicate
Microcytic anaemia
What are the platelet counts required for tx
> 50 can treat in special care
>100 can treat in general practice
What is an increased platelet count indicative of
Polycythaemia
Medications
Recent blood loss
What is lowered platelets indicative of
Blood cancers Anaemia Viral infections Chemo/radiotherapy Alcoholism Liver disease
What is the magic neutrophil number
1
What is lowered neutrophils indicative of
Discuss with haematology
What important results does a coagulation screen give you
PT
APTT
TT
What does a raised coagulation screen indicate
Increased bleeding tendency
What does a decreased coagulation screen indicate
Increased clotting tendency
How is INR calculated
PT / Reference PT Plasma
What are normal INR values
The INR value of a normal healthy individual should be 1.
For patient prescribed warfarin, there are target ranges in which the patient’s INR should sit = 2-4
What does variances in the INR and a high frequency of testing indicate
will suggest instability in the control and therefore there is a potential higher risk of complications
What must the INR be for dental tx
<4
What do renal function tests aka U&Es look at
sodium potassium chloride urea creatinine GFR
What are causes of raised sodium
Dehydration
Diarrhoea
Diabetes insipidus
What are causes of reduced sodium
Heart failure
Kidney failure
Cirrhosis
Diuretics
What are causes of raised potassium
MI risk
Arrythmias
Uncontrolled diabetes
Kidney disease
What are causes of lowered potassium
Weak, fatigued Muscle cramps Difficult breathing Blood pressure problems dehydration
What are causes of raised chloride
What are causes of raised chloride
acidosis
dehydration
kidney disease
What are causes of lowered chloride
dehydration
vomiting
diarrhoea
What are causes of increased urea
kidney failure/disease (can also lead to this)
dehydration
heart failure (reduced renal perfusion
high protein diet
What are causes of lowered urea
not really risk
pregnancy
low protein diet
What are causes of increased creatinine
liver problems
low muscle bulk
heart failure
What are causes of reduce creatinine
kidney damage/failure
kidney infection
heart failure
What values do we want for GFR
(we want GFR to be above 60, anything below this is bad
A GFR below 15 indicates kidney failure
What are causes of increased GFR
indicated stages of kidney damage heart disease diabetes UTIs High blood pressure Smoking Obesity
What are causes of reduced GFR
Kidney disease
Dehydration
Volume loss
What is the required HbA1c for dentistry
Anything below 6.5% will satisfy us for dentistry
What is the range of raised glucose levels that indicates health
3.5-6mmol/L
What is the range of values for glucose test that indicates diabetes
If glucose levels are above 11mmol/L, then the patient is said to be diabetic as they are not able to use insulin to put glucose into cells
What range in a glucose test will indicate impaired glucose tolerance
a patient is said to have impaired glucose tolerance and therefore is at risk of developing diabetes
What does myeloma and immunology screen test for
paraproteins
IgG
IgA
IgM
What are causes of raised paraproteins
Malignant proliferation of plasma cells (myeloma)
What are causes of raised igG
Autoimmune disorder
What is a lower igG indicative of
infection risk
What is increased IgA indicative of
Inflammation or infection
What is a reduced IGA indicative of
Infection risk
- Asthma risk and allergies risk
What is a raised IgM indicative of
Cancer risk
- Risk of repeated infection
What is a lowered igM indicative of
Infection risk
AI disease
Coeliac disease
malignancy
What does a liver function test test for
bilirubin ALT AST akaline phosphatase albumin
What does raised bilirubin indicate
jaundiced
abnormal liver function
What is causes of lowered bilirubin
caffeine
NSAIDs
penicillin
What is a raised ALT indicative of
liver damage from hepatitis
cirrhosis
liver cancer
medications
What is a lowered ALT indicative of
CKD
Vitamin B6 deficiency
What is a raised AST indicative of
Hepatitis Cirrhosis Liver disease Pancreatitis Heart problem
What is a lowered AST indicative of
Kidney disease
Liver disease
Vitamin B6 deficiency
What is a raised alkaline phosphatase indicative of
Liver damage
Bone disorder
What is a reduced alkaline phosphatase indicative of
Hypophosphatasia (rare genetic disease – affects bone and teeth)
What is a raised albumin indicative of
Dehydration/diarrhoea
What is a reduced albumin indicative of
Cirrhosis and CKD
