APS, will blood thinners affect lab results?

Xanadu3 · 07-01-2004, 02:50 PM

Hi all,
Can anyone tell me if taking Aggrenox when they draw your blood will affect your labs? Seems like I read somewhere that thinners did affect the LA test. What about the anticardiolipid test? Any other info?
Health and happiness.
(I'm a newbie. I posted the rest of my info 6/30 on the Immune board, if anyone can help me. Thanks!!)

Ali04 · 07-01-2004, 07:44 PM

No, they should not effect the test for anticardiolipin antibodies.

I know this, because I take 13mg of coumadin, and everytime they test those clotting factors (there are 3) they come back extremely high positive.

Now, I may be wrong here, but I know in my case, they were not affected.

Love,
Ali

caden/logan_mom · 07-02-2004, 07:24 AM

Don't mean to barge in but I have a related question.... I am not on blood thinners and my INR on my Lupus Anticoagulant Comprehensive was low and I"m wondering what that means. I don't have antiphospholipids or anything. My lab paper says "INR reference interval applies to patients on anticoagulant therapy. Suggested INR therapeutic range for oral anticoagulant therapy: (Stabilized anticoagulated patients)" HUH? Does that mean the number doesn't matter because I'm not on blood thinners or what? Also my Thrombin Time was slightly elevated, what does that mean--does it mean I'm a bleeder or what? Could someone smarter than me help me out?? Thanks y'all!
Shawnee

Ali04 · 07-02-2004, 09:34 AM

Hi Shawnee..let me see if I can help you...

Your Inr and Ptt and thromb levels are all the times it takes your body to clot..

For instance, if my Inr is too high I could be at a more likely chance of a bleed. If it is too low, chance of a clot. Pt is the actual time it takes your body to form clots...

If you are not any oral coagulation therapy, I dont know what the normal range is. If you are on coumadin for a previous stroke (me) Inr needs to be betweeen 2.5-3.5.
If this is like Chinese to you, well it is for me too. I just look for those magic numbers of 3.0!!

Inr has nothing to do with antiphospholipid antibodies. They are a seperate issue entirely. I hope I helped. Being on 13mg of coumadin can sometimes come in handy!!

Love,
Ali

Xanadu3 · 07-02-2004, 10:33 AM

Thanks for the input. I see you are on Coumadin. They are trying to decide whether to switch me from the Aggrenox to the Coumadin. I don't want to have another TIA. I'm trying to do the research on both. How has it been for you? Now they gave me a scrip for Plaquenil, which I haven't filled. Have you taken that? I've looked it up, but would love to hear from someone who has actually taken it. Take care.