What Causes Elevated Eosinophils And AST Levels?

Posted on Fri, 15 Aug 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 15 Aug 2014 Answered on

Sat, 6 Sep 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : My mother just got some bloodwork back and has elevated Eosinophils (%=13 and #=.2 thou/mm3), elevated AST (48U/L), RA Latex Turbid=46.7 (although she has virtually NO symptoms!), Uric Acid=7.4, Reactive Protein Cardiac=3.14, LDH=207. All other labs are normal. She experiences unexplainable itching all over her body and severe leg cramping at night. The only meds she takes is a daily dose of Symbicort inhaler for mild COPD. Her family doctor didn't recommend any further testing, just said, "go ahead and take the vitamins your daughter is recommending"!! What do you think of this? Would you suggest further testing to rule out disease? If so, what type of doctor should we see?

Answered by Dr. Saumya Mittal (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Meet a rheumatologist once to be sure

Detailed Answer:
In view of the symptoms mentioned, I would give weightage to all 3 reports.

An increased eosinophilic count means she is probably having allergy to something- which may be causing itching. Some anti allergens may help.

Besides increased uric acid may also cause the same thing. However medicines for this need to be started by a rheumatologist as they may have some serious side effects.

Rheumatoid factor, I would have suggested a quantitative test. And would have waited a month before retesting it.

I hope that helps.
Please feel free to ask a follow on query

Dr Mittal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar