- Light chains are part of antibodies that fight infections and responds to allergens
- Free light chains are pieces of antibodies that broke off and do not work as antibodies
- Elevation of immunoglobulin free light chains has been linked to many diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and food allergy
- Free light chains correlate with symptom severity and flares in some conditions
- Free light chains may be able to activate mast cells without IgE involvement
- Free light chains may be the link between mast cell activation and autoimmune disease
Explain the tests: Complete blood count (CB) with differential and platelets (Part One)
- A complete blood count (CBC) counts white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets in blood
- It also looks at the shape, size and variation in size of cells
Explain the tests: Complete blood count (CBC) – Low red cell count (Part two)
- Mature red blood cells live in the blood for 100-120 days
- Hemolysis is when red blood cells burst and a little bit of hemolysis is normal
- Red blood cells transport oxygen from lungs to tissues
- Red blood cells have hemoglobin inside them
- Hemoglobin is a protein with iron in the middle and it carries oxygen
- Low red blood cell count or hemoglobin is called anemia
- Red blood cell count can be low for several reasons, including nutritional deficiency and production dysregulation in bone marrow
- Mast cell patients often suffer from anemia of chronic inflammation, which can cause low red count
- Patients with inflammatory bowel disease can have low red count due to bleeding
- Swelling of spleen can cause low red count