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Hair Loss on hydroxyurea: Any experience with hair loss products?
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: Apr 11 2:07pm | Replies (15)Comment receiving replies
Being a laboratory scientist and having worked in hospital laboratories for 38 years, I can say biotin does affect certain lab tests. Depending on the test methodology, it can either falsely lower or elevate your test result by binding to the chemicals/reagents used in testing.
Tests affected are:
Troponin—a test used to help diagnose heart attacks
Thyroid hormone tests, such as thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) tests
Other hormones, such as parathyroid hormone (PTH), cortisol, follicle -stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)
Vitamin D levels
Recommendations are to stop taking biotin supplements at least 72 hours before any blood draws for lab tests.
Hope this helps.
Replies to "Being a laboratory scientist and having worked in hospital laboratories for 38 years, I can say..."
Welcome to Connect, @petoskeyb Thank you for sharing the information about how biotin can affect certain lab tests.
Since you’re new to the forum, is there anything special that led you to Connect? Were you diagnosed with a blood cancer?
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@petoskeyb
Thanks, Petoskeyb. This is an important point—even primary care physicians should keep it in mind before routinely ordering blood tests.
I do have a question: do you have any information about hair loss that can occur when tapering hydrocortisone 20mg in patients with adrenal insufficiency?