Anemia and Rheumatoid Arthritis or other auto-immune diseases?

[Lori707]

My blood counts are going down low along with my ferriton and my liver enzymes are going up. Does rheumatoid arthritis or another auto-immune disease cause anemia? If yes, is it common and what kind of anemia? From the bone marrow or liver? Very confused.

[Lori707]

Hi ! Been wanting to catch up with you. The first rheumy said I have RA and the new one I went to says I don't. My nuclear whole body scan shows most EVERY joint in my body to be degenerative. (does that mean erosion)? I do have that positive RA Factor and have pain. But now I don't know if I may have Lupus. My Lupus labs are negative including the DNA. Can they eventually become positive? I'm having bad neuro problems (pins/needles that sting so hard all over my body along with tremors and muscle twitching).

Anway, the first doc wants me on mxt and plaquinal. But can't take it cause I have latent TB. If I take any immune surpressents, it would activate the TB. My infectious disease doc doesn't want me on INH (TB antibiotic that's taken 9-12 months). He says I'm too old and it's very toxic, especially on the liver. My liver enzymes are up anyway. Can't take INH with a muscle disorder (I have fibro) or neuro problems, which I have. The only meds I'm on is some xanax and nexium. That shouldn't do it. I was on Lipitor for quite some time and that's very hard on the liver. Wondering if that did damage. I went off it several months ago and now my cholesterol is back up. Cardiologist wants me back on Lipitor but it will just make my enzymes go back up. "catch22".  I always had taken the prednisone pack dosage for my asthma and that could have activated my TB but it didn't. Whew!!!  Didn't know prednisone can do that and I didn't tell my allergest I was +PPD.

Got new results yesterday. My Bun/Creatinine Ratio and Bun is creeping up.

[txsilver]

Hi Lari,  What meds are you taking for your RA?  That could be affecting your labs.