"atypical Lymphocytes"

[Eve]

Hello, I've got my blood results back today and they say "Lymphocytes appear atypical".

My eosinophil count is marked as raised but to me it is only just over so not that high (0.46), WCC is 12.3 and Lymphs 4.82, usually inflammatory stuff up etc... Alk Phos is higher than usual at 105 but that's still well within normal range from what I can see.

Is this anything to be concerned over? Am so wanting decent bloods so they let me on one of the biologics and be kicked back off methotrexate so soon after starting it again! Something rings a bell from a few years ago when they tested me for glandular fever but it wasn't, thankfully! That was something to do with strange lymphocytes.

Thanks for any help!

[slaney]

I must have written that many times on blood reports Eve. It just means that the lymphocytes look as if they are fighting off a virus - classically seen in GF, but many other viruses do it.
The lymphocyte count is borderline raised which again would go with a virus of some kind.
i wouldn't worry too much.

[Sqad]

slaney will be along later, but for me, atypical lymphocytes with a raised lymphocyte count would bring Glandular fever straight to the fore, but as it is also associated with an auto-immune state, which you have, i would have thought that thaty was the answer in your case.

The results would not inject fear into me, had they been mine.

[Sqad]

Oops!..we replied at the same time.

[wolf63]

You can never find a doctor ... then two arrive at once :-)

[Eve]

Yay, thank you both :) That's good news. Ah, so it could be the RA causing it, I like that solution, means nothing infection like and anti- arthritis drugs :)

So keen to get started on one of the biologics! Apparently all my ANA and complement levels and stuff came back ok so really happy about that.

[slaney]

That's good news Eve.

I know that one can get atypical lymphocytes with RA, but it's fairly unusual - in my experience a low lymphocyte count is far commoner.

Do you know which drug they are thinking of using?

[Eve]

I was feeling a bit rubbish, like I was coming down with something but then perked up a bit with steroid injection kicking in and having my shoulders injected too. Exhausted again now though and my feet and ankles are so bad at the moment. Could the steroid injection cause the blood thing?

Tocilizumab has been mentioned and heard some great things about it. I was worried the recurrent abscesses would be an issue but they think it's hidradenitis suppurativa which is immune related so it could be counterproductive keeping me off meds.

[slaney]

Hi Eve - no, steroids increase the neutrophils, so that would not be the cause.
Again I would not worry too much. The finding of atypical (reactive) lymphocytes is usually transient, and only flagged up as a help to diagnosis if the patient has symptoms. In any case, it sounds as if it's something you have had before.

[LazyGun]

"Hi Eve - no, steroids increase the neutrophils, so that would not be the cause.
Again I would not worry too much. The finding of atypical (reactive) lymphocytes is usually transient, and only flagged up as a help to diagnosis if the patient has symptoms. In any case, it sounds as if it's something you have had before."

I would agree 100%.

[slaney]

I would hope so LazyGun!

[Eve]

That's great, thanks to all of you :) I think my bloods tend to be quite sensitive to things (or just gets bored!).

It's such a weight off my mind to be able to come on here and find stuff out, it really is.