LymeNet Flash: High platelet count, low mpv, band 23

This is topic High platelet count, low mpv, band 23 - what does it mean? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by cosmo*1 (Member # 6747) on :

I have been suspicious of having lyme for years and finally went back for labwork and lyme specialist after 3 years of refusing to see docs (got tired of being told it was in my head and to go see a psychiatrist...). Anyways, just got my labs back. Postive Elisa for lyme, only Western Blot bands present are IGg 41 and 23. (looking back through old labs, 23 has showed up each time in previous tests done years ago). My platelet count is slightly elevated (438) and my mpv is low (7.3). All other blood work is within normal parameters and all co-infection tests were negative.

My doc put me on doxy which I started a few days ago. I have an appointment next week to discuss results and next steps but I'm just wondering what it all means so I can ask the right kinds of questions. Any insights would be appreciated. thanks.

Posted by LymeLaura (Member # 6624) on :

You sound like my daughter. She was misdiagnosed with kidney disease for years (lots of uti's and kidney pain). She ended up with elevated platelets, low MPV, and eleated alkaline phosphatase which always went to normal on antibiotics. Lots of negative Elisa test. Turns out she has lyme and babesia (by western blot and pcr testing). Get yourself to an llmd and get tested for coinfections!

Laura

Posted by twoangie (Member # 1636) on :

Cosmo,

The first bands that showed up for me were 23 and 41. You are definitely on the right track.

I'm not certain which test the MPV is. I know about MCV. Is that what you meant?

Have you had your Ferritin levels checked? This is a test to check your iron levels. I have a suspicion that you may be low on iron. Your ferritin level needs to be close to 40 but the labs will let you go as low as 11 before anyone shows concern. Iron supplements will help to bring this number up.

The reason I'm thinking you may need iron (oh, and no, this won't fix the Lyme problem but may help to give you more energy if that is one of your problems) is due to a couple of reasons. I think I came into my illness already low on iron due to a past history as a blood donor. My lyme test did not turn out positive until after I had been supplementing with iron for over a month. I think it was due to the fact that my body was so low on iron that my immune system had never really been able to get going enough to launch a response.

Also, a high platelet count and low MCV can be indicators of low iron levels according to my book on anemia. There are other things to look at as well but I only have a few clues here. Additionally, low iron levels can be tough to diagnose from a standard CBC because your body can become severely iron deficient before anything shows up on a CBC. Your body will steal iron from the bone marrow when it has depleted them from other stores and this is why a CBC can look normal when you are low on iron. You must have a ferritin test to gauge where your iron levels are.

Anyway, I think that is in a slightly different direction but it is something to look into esp if there is any possibility that you may have co-infections or be harboring any other bacteria. Not only can your lifestyle easily contribute to an iron deficiency, many of these infections can as well.

Take care,

Angie

Posted by cosmo*1 (Member # 6747) on :

Thanks for the responses - couldn't get to a computer any sooner... All the tests my llmd did for co-infections were negative so I'm assuming I don't have to worry about those. Are the tests for co-infections generally considered accurate or as with lyme, are there a lot of false negatives/positives?

I'll check into the iron thing and make sure to ask the llmd about that. MPV stands for mean platelet volume but I'm not exactly sure what that means when combined with a high platelet count.

Take care.

Posted by twoangie (Member # 1636) on :

Ok, I'm going to venture a guess:
You have a high platelet count but a low volume. I would think that means that even though your body is producing more, they are smaller than they should be. By producing more than normal, it appears that your body is working harder to produce these platelets to compensate for a nutrient it is lacking.

If you are not taking a multivitamin, then you should start immediately because it may be that you are low on your B vitamins as well. I finally found a multivitamin I really like, it's Life Force Multiple by Source Naturals. They have a brand with iron and one without iron. I prefer to buy it without the iron and supplement that as needed.

If you buy an iron supplement, and it sounds like you may need one, try to get something like ferrous (or iron) bisglycinate (spelled something like that, can't fully remember) but stay away from any products with ferrous sulfate in any supplements including multivitamins. It is a bad form of iron. I think it oxidizes more quickly. Again, can't remember the details but I remember the main points.

Oh, and co-infection tests are notoriously inaccurate as well.

Take care,

Angie

Posted by cosmo*1 (Member # 6747) on :

I'm pretty big on taking supplements, vitamins, eating right, exercise, meditation, etc. Having focused on my what goes into my body the last 3 years has probably delayed my diagnosis although it has (I'm sure) also helped fight the disease in my body.

I'll discuss the co-infection thing with my llmd. He's published an article on co-infections so I would think he's pretty much on top of it. I've only met with him once so far and he's been great - the first doctor to ever tell me that he'd get to the bottom of what's going on with me even if it wasn't lyme. Such a breath of fresh air!