Ask Question
Sign Guest book

 
About Lymphoma
| Advocacy & Art | CAM & Life Style | Clinical trials | Doctors & Centers  | Guidelines  at  Diagnosis | How  to   Help  | Research | Side Effects  | Support | Symptoms  | Tests | Treatments


WebCasts

Labs

  

Diagnostics | Imaging | Labs | Other Tests

Tests > Laboratory Tests for Lymphoma

Last Update: 02/19/2008

 
bullet

Blood Tests

bullet

CBC

bullet

CRP (C-Reactive Protein)

bullet

Disease direction Indicators

bullet

Serum CD25

bullet

Immunoglobulins

bullet

LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase)

bullet

H-pylori

bullet

Human beta-2 microglobulin  

bullet

Interleukin 6 

bullet

Labs A to Z

bullet

T-cells

Related Topics
Diagnosis & Pathology Getting a Second Pathology Evaluation | Prognostic Indicators   Performance Standards | Diagnostic Tests | Disease Direction Indicators

SV40 virus tests?  We are currently seeking information about how to test for the presence of this virus in lymphoma tissue and/or the blood, and will post our findings here. Presently, our understanding is that there is no reliable standard test for the virus, and that it will take sophisticated PCR testing.

Blood Tests
Return to top

 

Find the meaning of your laboratory (lab) blood test results with these links. Also see Disease Direction indicators below, for a quick summary of what lab indicators your doctor is likely to monitor.

bullet
About Blood cells  universityofchicago 
bullet
CBC - Complete Blood counts  LLS | bloodbook | PAL
bullet
Chem screen, reference range  AIDSMeds.com 
bullet
Urinalysis  NIH   
bullet
Handbook of Diagnostic Hematopathology Tests > depts.washington.edu  PDF
bullet
Lab Test Index  descipher.com
bullet
Lab interpretations  Uthman | Lab Tests online | Medline Plus  | NHL Pt Ctr Guide | CellMate Wellness | Bloodbook.com
Labs A to Z
Return to top

 

Under construction
Labs A to Z

CBC
Complete Blood Count with Differential
Return to top

Moved here

CRP
C-Reactive Protein
Return to top

"C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is a pentameric serum protein which rapidly increases in concentration at the onset of inflammation, infection and tissue injury, and is considered the classical acute phase reactant. 

Its measurement is comparable to following erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR), but CRP levels correlate more closely with the degree of tissue damage and are more reliable and rapid in detecting changes in disease activity.

Measurement of CRP serum levels may be helpful in the management of inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, bacterial infections, tissue injury such as myocardial infarction or burns, neoplasia, and leukemias and lymphomas. CRP levels also can aid in the differential diagnosis of a number of diseases"  See for details  http://depts.washington.edu/

Disease Direction
indications

Related Topics

Diagnosis &
Pathology

  Getting a Second
Pathology Evaluation

Prognostic 
Indicators

Performance 
Standards

Diagnostic 
Tests

Disease Direction Indicators

 

 

Return to top
Disease Direction Indications

Increasing or decreasing lab values may help to gauge progression or response to treatment. However, location of disease, and treatments can affect interpretation of the indicators provided here. Therefore, it's important to consult with your doctor about questions you may have.

Increased levels: ALT (sSGPT), Alkaline Phosphatase, AST (sGOT), Beta2-microglobulin, BIlirubin, Total Calcium, Creatinine, LD (LDH), Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Sodium, BUN, Uric Acid

Decreased levels: Albumin, Cholesterol, Globulin Iron, Total MCH, MCHC, MCV, Protein

Source: NHL disease-specific disease Lab pattern indications  CellMate Wellness

Lay comment on the importance of identify biomarkers for lymphomas 

Unlike breast and prostate cancers, there are no screening tests for the early detection of lymphomas. So the search for reliable biomarkers continues. 

Perhaps investigators should look for elevated levels of multiple indicators that together predict for lymphoma, instead of trying to find the ideal single marker.  For example, if all of the following are elevated, it may indicate you have lymphoma as reliably as elevated PSA predicts for prostate cancer: CD25, LDH, IL-6 Beta2-microglobulin, LDH...

 

Serum CD25 

Levels of CD25 are not typically tested for in lymphoma patients outside of investigational settings.

Return to top

 

Serum CD25 a receptor expressed on immune cells

This marker is not commonly tested for (if at all) outside investigative settings.

Topic search Serum CD25 AND lymphoma

bullet
Indicator of tumor burden
"serum levels of sCD25, sCD8, sCD54, and sCD44 are roughly proportional to the burden of neoplasm (tumor), but sCD25 is clearly a more sensitive marker -- use for stage assessment is recommended.   Heamatological 1998; 83:750-768  PDF | PDF-Help
Human beta-2 microglobulin

Important that when comparing test results, that the tests are done at the same lab.

Return to top

Topic Search: ASCO | Medscape | PubMed 

Background wikipedia.org 

Beta2-microglobulin (Beta 2 M) is a protein found on the surface of many cells, including white blood cells. 

The test helps in evaluating a person with certain kinds of cancer affecting white blood cells including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. 

"The degree of elevation of ß2M can be related to tumor cell load, disease activity and prognosis. Thus, ß2M may be useful as a tumor marker. In disorders such as acute leukemia and lymphoma ... 

... where there is CNS involvement (rare), the CSF ß2M may be elevated. This is often meaningful if measured simultaneously with serum ß2M." ARUP's Guide

"In HD patients a significant association was found between the level of S-beta 2M and stage of disease (P less than 0.05) and presence of splenomegaly (P less than 0.05). No association was found between S-beta 2M level and histologic subtypes, lymph nodes greater than 3 cm in diameter, bone marrow involvement, and B symptoms. A significant relation was found between S-beta 2M level and survival in HD patients with widespread disease (P less than .025)." 2

  1. Beta2-microglobulin test  healthatoz.com
  2. Serum beta 2 microglobulin in malignant lymphoproliferative disorders.
    Cancer. 1985 May 15;55(10):2384-9. PMID: 3886124 | Related articles
  3. Correlation and prognostic value of serum soluble ICAM-1, beta-2 microglobulin, and IL-2alphaR levels in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Leuk Lymphoma. 1999 May;33(5-6):551-8.
    PMID: 10342582  PubMed | Related abstracts
Interleukin 6 
(IL-6)

Levels of IL-6 are not typically tested for in lymphoma patients outside of investigational settings.

 

Return to top

 

Topic Search: ASCO | Web  

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine (signal protein) that has many functions related to immune activity, especially inflammation. It is also described as a biological response modifier - a substance that can improve the body's response to infection and disease.

Higher than normal levels of IL-6 is often associated with the progression of some lymphomas.

Background wikipedia.org

  1. About IL-6  test
  2. High serum interleukin-6 levels correlate with a shorter failure-free survival in indolent lymphoma. Leuk Lymphoma. 1998 Aug;30(5-6):563-71.  PMID: 9711918 | More
Lactate
Dehydrogenase
(LDH)

Reference range varies widely per lab. 

Therefore, when comparing test results, that the tests are done at the same lab.

Return to top

 

TOPIC SEARCH: LDH AND Lymphoma | PubMed

Background wikipedia.org 

Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) or (LD) is an enzyme that is expressed at higher levels when lymphocytes are dividing or, more commonly, when cells are distressed and damaged, particularly red blood cells. 

Elevating LDH is an indirect indication of disease progression. Sharp increases can indicate transformation. " Drugs that can increase LDH measurements include: anesthetics, aspirin, clofibrate, fluorides, mithramycin, narcotics, and procainamide." - MedlinePlus [1]  

NOTE: Your doctor will look at LDH in the context of clinical symptoms and other lab results. Normal variability of results can be 20 points or more. Treatments can also affect LDH levels temporarily. Tumor lysis (death) resulting from treatment might raise LDH initially - in that context uric acid and magnesium levels will also increase as well.  

  1. LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase  medhelp.orgMedline Plus | labcorp.com
  2. Details and Implications  
  3. TOPIC Search Family Practice Notebook
  4. FLIPI and LDH  PAL 
     
T-cells

Adult reference range/units varies per lab:

CD4% = 32.14 - 59.30% 
CD8% = 15.05 - 36.11% 
CD4 Abs# = 522-1594/mm3 
CD 8 Abs# = 135 - 1047/mm3 
CD4/CD8 Ratio = 0.67 - 3.11 
 
Source:
UTMB.edu 

Return to top

Testing T-cell counts and function can help to measure immune competence. These tests are not commonly ordered for NHL pts, but they might provide useful information for doctors when  considering immune-based therapies for their patients. 

bullet
T-Cell Subset Panel (CD4 Count)  path.upmc.edu 
 
"Performed on peripheral blood. It may be identified as T-lymphocyte test, T-Cell Subsets, T and B Cells, CD4/CD8 ratio, immunodeficiency panel, or by other synonyms. It includes a total or pan-T-cell antibody, a total or pan B cell antibody, a T Helper cell (CD4) antibody, a T Suppressor cell (CD8) antibody, and two natural killer cell associated antibodies. No functional tests are performed. Results include both relative and absolute values for each cell type as well as the T helper/suppressor ratio. The test is performed according to CDC guidelines."
bullet
Cellular Immune Deficiencies as the Underlying Cause of Elevated of Elevated Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Antibody Titers in EBV-Associated Illnesses   Ourworld.compuserve.com 
bullet
Activated Natural Killer/IL-2R  www.labcorp.com 
 
"Natural killer (NK) cells are large granular lymphocytes that mediate MCH-unrestricted cytotoxicity against virus-infected and malignant cells and manufacture a number of cytokines following stimulation of the immune system."
bullet
Understanding T-cells  wikepedia
 
 
Disclaimer:  The information presented on Lymphomation.org is not intended to be a substitute for 
professional medical advice or to replace your relationship with a physician.
For all medical concerns,  you should always consult your doctor. 
Patients Against Lymphoma, Copyright © 2004,  All Rights Reserved.