Alterations in Blood Test Results
Presence of certain underlying medical conditions cause changes in blood test result. If a patient has rheumatoid arthritis, giant cell arteritis (GCA) or systemic-interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD), doctors always do blood tests every 4 to 8 weeks once the patient starts receiving Actemra for the first six months and every three months after that. Patients with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (PJIA) run blood tests every 4 to 9 weeks during treatment. Patients with Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) do blood tests every 2 to 5 weeks from the beginning of the treatment. The major aim of these blood tests is to check for the following side effects of Actemra:
- Reduced neutrophil count: neutrophils granular white blood cells that help the body fight infection using phagocytosis. Their life span (usually 7 hours) sometimes reduces.
- Low platelet Count: platelets are blood cells that help with blood clotting, to stop bleeding.
- Elevated liver function test levels: these are tests done to help diagnose any liver disease or manage existing ones. Usage of Actemra can increase the rate at which these tests are done due to presence of excess liver enzyme in the blood.
- Increase in blood cholesterol levels: presence of excess low density lipoprotein causes increase in blood cholesterol level. Cholesterol levels are usually checked 4 to 8 weeks after you start receiving Actemra.
Doctors determine how often patients have follow-up blood tests. Patients with low neutrophil and platelet counts or high liver function tests level. Most times, doctors stop administration of Actemra in the presence of changes in blood tests.