would the results of blood work be the same after a transfusion? age-71-heart fail,stroke, now renal failure?

Question

Mother history: heart attacks then stroke (2000), her level of creatinnine today 3.4 last year 2.6 year before 1.6 she went in last week and blood work revealed anemia,, blood work done before, red blood cells very low,blood transfusion administered,her level was high, she had a kidney worked on 4yrs ago,, stent placed on one kidney,,not the other was to weak..My question is would there be a difference on the lab work if the blood sample was taken at a time when she was low on blood? Also where would her blood be lost at? She was taken off off LOTREL and put on NOVASC, kidney specialist claims lotrel goes through kidney while norvasc goes through liver,,,, will there be a difference on bun - creatinine.. level ? Should the doctor informed family about escalating levels, or did he wait to long?

Answer 1

Your mother has declining renal function...unfortunately there is no known cure for that problem. It is a condition that you monitor and refer for dialysis when necessary. You have a nephrologist in the picture so that should be helpful.

Theoretically the lab results would be different after a blood transfusion - especially immediately after a transfusion...but I am not sure that is all relevant. (You are referring to Cr, right?) Within 24 hours the lab results would be normalized again - and probably a lot sooner that that. Of course the hemocrit and hemogloblin will be dramatically changed.

You mother's renal function will fluctuate with how relatively "happy" her kidney's are at any particular moment. It is not unheard of to improve a heart failure condition and find that the kidney function is back to what it was a year ago.

Your mother's blood loss is likely due to losing blood cells through the kidney. Small amounts of red blood cells are lost through the urine constantly, causing anemia. This do not generally cause the urine to look bloody, if you were wondering. If GI losses have not been evaluated, then they should be, to be thorough.

I have had good sucess with a combination of hydralazine and long acting nitrates. I would bet that your mother also suffers from congestive heart failure and diabetes. If you can get the sugars ideally controlled and the get the heart to improve its function a little (perfectly controlled blood pressure, b-blocker (Coreg if possible), hydralazine, long acting nitrate, diuretic and/or spironolactone, maybe, digoxin), then often you buy yourself some extra years of quality life. In truth this is a very difficult combination of circumstances that does not have a great prognosis, no matter what your physician does or doesn't do or does and doesn't tell you.

I hope this is helpful. Good luck and God bless.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Most docs look at the H&H after a transfuson.