white blood cells

madness1985
madness1985 Member Posts: 293
edited 8. Nov 2009, 17:34 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hiya,

I am right in saying that RA is because your WBC are attacking your joints? Can there be a run in families who have WHC problems but it turns into different diagnoises? I am just curiouse because i foud out today that my uncle has too many WBA!

Sorry 4 random here!

xx

Comments

  • wendylou
    wendylou Member Posts: 88
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hiya,

    I am right in saying that RA is because your WBC are attacking your joints? Can there be a run in families who have WHC problems but it turns into different diagnoises? I am just curiouse because i foud out today that my uncle has too many WBA!

    Sorry 4 random here!

    xx
    Hiya I don't know wether this might help but when i got my blood results back my white cells were slightly raised i don't have R/A but have O/A but my GP said that he will keep an eye on them and he also said that after i have to have more xrays he wants a blood test for R/A in case its that what is keeping my cells up, he also said that its a sign of some kind of infection, so you could be right about it attacking your joints, please let me know if you hear anymore about this as i am interested as mine are always raised. :roll: :? keep well. Wendylou x.
  • c4thyg
    c4thyg Member Posts: 542
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    There are many types of WBCs so the number of each type would be needed to answer your question. Antibodies (immunoglobulins) attack the tissues in the joints in RA ans PsA which cause the damage. In my case my WBCs aren't usually raised (but I do have very low neutrophils from my meds) but the balance of the different WBCs probably are different.

    As far as RA running in families is concerned, my understanding is that autoimmune diseases can run in families but the type of autoimmune disease isn't always the same. Ra is one of the more common types of autoimmune so maybe there is a pattern. I don't think it is fully understood though.
  • madness1985
    madness1985 Member Posts: 293
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you for your replies! I dont no what type my uncle is all i know is that he has too many! I shall do more investigation into this. Just my mum had WBC probs and she had lukema (didnt kill her but throat cancer did and she never smoked) and now i find out my uncle has to many WBC strange! Hope e1 is well xx