Results from Insurance Physical

[DIRTY_SOUTH]

TweetThey sprung this on me and I am currently mid cycle of a 24weeker. Can anyone shed some light to me as to what SGOT and SGPT is???? I know my cholesterol is out of whack (nolva,aroma,ldex,cyp,deca,prop) but I don't know what some of these other things mean....


Results \ Reference Range

Cholesterol 272mg/dl 120mg/dl - 240mg/dl *HIGH*
HDL Cholesterol 24mg/dl 31 mg/dl - 85mg/dl *LOW*
Cholesterol Ratio 11.3% 0.0%-5.0% *HIGH*
LDL 195mg/dl 70-194mg/dl *HIGH*
LDL/HDL Ratio 8.12 mg/dl .96 mg/dl - 6.06 mg/dl *HIGH*
Triglycerides 261 mg/dl 10 mg/dl - 190 mg/dl *HIGH*
Glucose 60 mg/dl 70 mg/dl - 125 mg/dl *LOW*
SGOT (AST) 48 U/L 0 U/L - 41 U/L *HIGH*
SGPT (ALT) 64 U/L 0 U/L - 45 U/L *HIGH*
Total Protein 9.9 g/dl 6.0 g/dl - 8.5 g/dl *HIGH*
Calcium 9.3 mg/dl 8.5 mg/dl - 10.5 mg/dl *NORMAL*
Serum HIV NEG
HEMOLYZED - SLIGHT

[edvedr]

Tweetthose are your liver readings

[rado]

TweetDrop the liquidex, or drop it to EOD @ 0.5-0.25mgs...


How To Monitor Your Blood Work
Chemistry (Chem) Screen
A large part of your laboratory report examines chemicals in your blood and identifies whether body processes are working correctly. Typically, 24 of these values are included in a Chem 24 Report also known as a SMAC or a SMA20. Your physician, clinical nurse manager (CNM), or nurse practitioner (NP) should be able to help you decipher your lab values. Chem Screens should be administered at least three times per year if you're not taking medication, more often if you are. Aside from the medical standpoint, we have considered these values from their nutritional and digestive standpoints as well.

We have chosen for discussion only those markers we feel are commonly the most important for people with HIV disease. Again, those that are asterisked (*) and bolded are listed on the DAAIR Laboratory Chart found at the end of this report. For other tests, please see the section immediately following this one.

*Albumin is one of the two major types of protein in the blood and promotes the transfer of nutrients and wastes to and from the blood and cells. Manufactured in the liver, albumin decreases in chronic liver disease. Albumin is also a marker of wasting, which sometimes may begin even before there is any weight loss. Lower levels are frequently noted in people with HIV. It also reflects your general nutritional status.

Increases indicate thick blood, which could be due to improper protein digestion or dehydration. Decreases (fairly frequent in advanced HIV disease) indicate thin blood with possible water retention, nutritional congestion, toxic buildup and edema (swelling). Usually the liver production of albumin is sluggish in persons with HIV.

*Creatinine is a waste product and is a measure of kidney function as well as skeletal muscle buildup and breakdown in body maintenance. Bodybuilders sometimes use creatine phosphate, which is found in muscles. The end product of creatine breakdown is creatinine. Increases (in people not supplementing with creatine) indicate muscle breakdown, often to supply amino acids to the body when protein digestion is impaired. Increases also indicate serious kidney trouble (sometimes seen in drugs used to treat different opportunistic infections). Decreases indicate low protein intake or impaired protein digestion.

*Globulins--see Serum Activation Markers below.

Gamma GT, *AST (also known as SGOT), *ALT (also known as SGPT) and lactic dehydrogenase (known as LDH) are liver, muscle, and heart enzymes (i.e., proteins that speed up chemical reactions). Elevations in these tests are most common in liver disease but may also rise from other injuries, tumors, or negative effects from some drugs. PWHIVs who use alternative treatments, especially long-term usage and/or high doses of herbs, including garlic, should carefully monitor their AST and ALT for any potential long-term toxicities. ALT (alanine aminotransferase) also reflects heart function, and increases can mean possible heart damage.

AST (aspartate aminotransferase) can also reflect gonadal function and it shows the amount of oxygen available to membranes. Aside from liver/heart/muscle damage, elevations in AST can indicate a deficiency of certain hormones and vitamin E. Decreases indicate a deficiency of the gonad itself.

LDH can also reflect blood acidity and pancreatic function. It is not uncommon for persons on nucleoside analogues (AZT, ddI, ddC) who exercise frequently to have an elevated LDH due to muscle tissue breakdown. Others who do not exercise but are on these drugs--or are wasting--may also have an increased LDH. Persons with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) tend to have a more serious prognosis if they have an elevated LDH. Decreases indicate an alkaline tendency in the blood.

Liver Function Tests (LFT) see AST, ALT and LDH above. When liver function tests are ordered, your doctor is essentially looking at levels of these enzymes in the liver (and other body parts). With liver inflammation, or death of liver cells, there is an increase in the blood levels of these enzymes.

Many different viruses can cause liver inflammation including the hepatitis viruses, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Alcohol and certain drugs--and some alternative/complementary treatments--can also cause inflammation, with subsequent elevation of liver enzymes. This is why doctors monitor liver function closely when a person is on many drugs for treatment of HIV disease. Watch them closely if you are on alternative treatments, especially combinations and various herbs.

*Ferritin--see Serum Activation Markers below.
*Triglycerides--see Serum Activation Markers below.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Perhaps the most routine test is the complete blood count (CBC). The CBC examines formed elements (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets) and plasma (which is made of water, protein and other substances). HIV-positive persons with no symptoms should have a CBC every 6 to 12 months. Those with symptoms should have a CBC every 3 months.

*White Blood Cell Count (WBC) is the count of white blood cells, also called leukocytes. WBCs defend the body against infection and make up part of the immune system. Like other blood cells they are produced in the bone marrow. The total number of white blood cells has a wide range from 4,000 to 11,000 per cubic millimeter in the average healthy adult.
(Remember, for all the following ranges see the reference ranges for your particular laboratory.)

A high WBC may mean the body is fighting an infection and can be a further measure of immune hyperactivation (see below). More often than not, people with HIV may suffer from a low WBC. This may mean there is a bone marrow problem as a result of either chronic disease (such as HIV itself) or from drugs like AZT, ganciclovir (DHPG), Bactrim (TMP/SMX) and others.

Tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, and other fungal diseases may also cause bone marrow problems or "cytopenia," low cell counts. Neupogen (G-CSF) is an injectable drug that stimulates the production of white blood cells and can be prescribed by your doctor. It is very important to keep an adequate WBC level at all times.

*Red Blood Cell Count (RBC) is the count of red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen throughout the body. Normal RBC values for men are higher than for women and range from 4.6 to 6.2 million cells per cubic millimeter in men and 4.2 to 5.4 million cells per cubic millimeter in women. Too many red blood cells in the bloodstream may cause slow blood flow and compromise circulation. A low RBC may signify anemia or a shortage of hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying part of the RBC); this usually reflects underproduction or premature destruction of the cells. It is common for persons with HIV to have below normal numbers of red blood cells
(anemia). The body produces over 2 million each second; they live about 120 days.

Epogen (EPO or erythropoeitin) is an injectable drug that stimulates the production of red cells. It is used in anemic AIDS patients to reduce the frequency of transfusions.

*Hemoglobin (HGB) is a protein that enables red blood cells to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. The amount of hemoglobin determines how much oxygen the red blood cells are capable of carrying to other cells. Normal hemoglobin levels for adults range from 14 to 18 grams per deciliter for men and approximately 12 to 16 grams for women. Levels for children vary with age but are generally 1 to 2 grams lower than adult female values.

These levels are often low among people with HIV, even those not on medications. The interpretation of an abnormal decline in HGB depends upon the values of other lab results as well as clinical factors, all of which should be followed up and discussed with your doctor. One large study, published in the journal AIDS, suggested that low hemoglobin combined with low CD4 counts and high beta-2 microglobulin and IgA indicated more rapid progression to AIDS. Regarding AZT in particular, studies have shown that people who start treatment with low hemoglobin levels are more likely to have problems with anemia because of the drug than people who start treatment with normal or near normal hemoglobin levels. A good, broad-spectrum B-complex vitamin may help and is suggested for all those who use AZT. Make sure the complex has a high level of vitamin B12.

*Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) is the average volume of individual red blood cells. MCV is calculated by dividing the hematocrit by the total red blood cells. (Hematocrit is the number of red blood cells found in the bottom of a test tube after it has been spun or centrifuged; averages range between 40% and 60%, with variations between men, women and children). In the lab it is determined by computerized counters. The average range is 81 to 101 femtoliters. A low MCV indicates the cells are smaller than normal. This most commonly occurs because of an iron deficiency or chronic disease. AZT may cause the MCV to rise above normal, which may also happen if there is a vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency (especially when combined with low red blood cells and WBCs). Additional tests may be necessary to pinpoint the problem.

*Platelets (PT) are an element of the blood that are important for blood clotting. They are formed in the bone marrow. Too many platelets may cause "sludging" of the blood flow. Persons with HIV disease may have low platelets or thrombocytopenia. This can occur at various stages (including early stages) of HIV disease and does not necessarily mean there has been a deterioration in immune function.

Drug reactions may also be responsible for the destruction of red blood cells or platelets. The average platelet count is 150,000 to 440,000. The chance of major bleeding rises as the platelet count drops below 40,000. Bruising can be evident at higher counts, and some people with HIV disease can have much lower counts without evidence of bleeding. There is a new non-toxic platelet stimulating factor called WinRho or anti-D which is nearing approval by the FDA (as of March 1996 when this was written) and has resulted in a mean increase of 49,000 platelets in people with HIV.

Lymphocyte Subsets: T-cell counts
What is a surrogate marker?
In the simplest of terms anything that measures viral growth and spread through indirect means--that is without directly measuring part(s) of HIV--is a surrogate or secondary marker. So all of the following markers measure the effects of the virus on the immune system. These types of indirect markers are still highly controversial as to their accuracy in predicting either rates of disease progression or therapeutic response derived from various antiviral strategies. This is because, for example, people sometimes have a higher T-cell count yet become symptomatic and, on the other hand, sometimes stay well with a very low CD4 count. So it is the constellation of a range of markers over time and understanding how they change that can help guide treatment choices. We believe these markers are generally useful in interpreting changes within the body and immune system that indicates both a more favorable body-environment for increasing or decreasing HIV growth and progression and guiding various treatment strategies.

Note that the "T cell" is known by a variety of names, but they're all the same, including CD4 and T4. For consistency, we use the term "CD4 cell" since that is more specific. In reality, CD8 cells are also T cells but the term T cells used by most people refers only to CD4.

Many surrogate markers are components of the immune system (see the section: An Immunology Primer). These include different types of cells (CD4, CD8, CD28, HLA-DR+ and natural killer cells--CD56) and proteins secreted by the immune system cells (beta-2-microglobin, neopterin, immunoglobulins [Ig] and p24 antibody), while others (ferritin, triglycerides, sed rate) measure even more indirect effects which are thought to be favorable for HIV growth. Health care providers often use surrogate markers to decide on drug therapies and to monitor the effects of experimental treatments.

It is important to consider markers together (especially CD4 cells, neopterin, beta-2 microglobulin, sedimentation rate, IgG) rather than any one singly, so that a more complete picture of the potential rate of disease progression is obtained. We believe that sustained, significant increase of any immune hyperactivation markers reflect favorable conditions for the growth of HIV.

[HungarianBeast]

TweetAt least your calcium is normal and HIV negative. lol

SGOT: Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, an enzyme that is normally present in liver and heart cells. SGOT is released into blood when the liver or heart is damaged. The blood SGOT levels are thus elevated with liver damage (for example, from viral hepatitis) or with an insult to the heart (for example, from a heart attack). Some medications can also raise SGOT levels. SGOT is also called aspartate aminotransferase (AST).

SGPT: Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, an enzyme that is normally present in liver and heart cells. SGPT is released into blood when the liver or heart are damaged. The blood SGPT levels are thus elevated with liver damage (for example, from viral hepatitis) or with an insult to the heart (for example, from a heart attack). Some medications can also raise SGPT levels. Also called alanine aminotransferase (ALT).

from medicinenet.com

[rado]

Tweetbasically your liver is getting fucked....need to get some R-ala and thistle....Drink some green tea, b12 and b6....

[edvedr]

Tweetare you takin ala or milk thistle.....if your lookin to help the cholesterol mid cycle try to get your doc to prescribe niaspan.....its niacin that will not harm your liver

[edvedr]

Tweetalso bro why are you using l-dex and aroma

[DIRTY_SOUTH]

TweetThanks guys, guess I need to start hitting the ALA a little more

[DIRTY_SOUTH]

TweetI was using the ldex in the beginning to help with the bloat, the aroma wasn't doing shit for the bloat but I've already dropped the ldex. I was just saying that I knew the contributing factors as to why my cholesterol levels were up.

[edvedr]

Tweetaroma is powerful shit......def don't use with l-dex.....what was the companys decision....deny....a rating....or retest

[DIRTY_SOUTH]

Tweetjust sent a letter saying that I need to contact my agent if I had any questions about the application or underwriting process and thank you for your application.

[edvedr]

Tweetlet me know what your agent says.....i'm curious

[DIRTY_SOUTH]

TweetWhat's your thoughts?

[edvedr]

Tweetummm i'm really not sure.....i've seen results like this get a retest as well as being declined.....it depends on the company.....we retest alot when they are really out of wack for young people

[DIRTY_SOUTH]

TweetShit, theres no way that I'll be cleaned up in enough time for a retest