[majolica]

misleading labs

by majolica on Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:30 am

I acquired von willebrand from my mgus. I have only talked online with one other person that had acquired von willebrand that did progress to multiple myeloma. He also had a terrible time getting his multiple myeloma diagnoses due to his misleading labs. He told me that we are making extra white cells, red cells and platelets to compensate for the lack of clotting factors. He had to get BMB every 3 months and still was diagnosed late with stage 3 multiple myeloma. So the only way they found out was the BMB'S. Since I also have misleading labs and the doctors won't do a BMB on me. Is there any other way to get a better picture of whats really going on. Would a peripheral blood smear help! Has this been encountered with any other patients? I am lucky to get any labs done once a year due to being under-insured..

Here's more about me:
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/lucencies-t559.html

Thanks for taking the time to answer...

[Dr. Edward Libby]

Re: misleading labs

by Dr. Edward Libby on Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:02 pm

Often, the best way to be certain that a patient does or does not have mutliple myeloma is to perform a bone marrow biopsy. There is no replacement test for this.

[Dr. Edward Libby]

Re: misleading labs

by Dr. Edward Libby on Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:06 pm

Other testing that is part of the routine evaluation for myeloma includes XRAYs of all of the major bones (skeletal survey), routine blood testing for anemia, kidney function and calcium levels and of course testing of the blood and urine for myeloma proteins (serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP), urine protein electrophoresis (UPEP) and serum free light chains).

[majolica]

Re: misleading labs

by majolica on Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:52 pm

Thanks for the fast response.... I guess I will remain a mystery.