RHEUMATOLOGY UNIT
A Guide to your Shared Care Card.
What is a Shared Care Card.?
The shared care card is the yellow card you will have been given at the hospital. The information on this card will help you, the doctors at the hospital and your own doctor
(GP ) to share information about your condition and its treatment.
Why have I been given such a card?
In agreement with your doctor you will have been asked to take a type of tablet/ injection, for your arthritis known as a second line agent, or disease modifying agent
(DMARD). You will have been given an information leaflet about the specific tablet you have been prescribed. While you are taking this medication it is important for you to have regular blood tests . The information about the results of you blood tests will be put on your card and provide a valuable record for you and your doctors to refer to.
Where do I get my blood tests done?
You can organise an appointment for your blood tests to be taken at your local surgery. It is your responsibility to make sure you arrange to have these tests at the right time.
How often do I need to have my blood tests done?
Information about how often you should arrange to have your blood taken is written on your drug information leaflet. The most usual routine is every 2 weeks for the first
3 months after starting the treatment, and then every month. Your doctor may tell you after a while that you need not have your blood taken so often.
Why are these blood tests important?
It is important to have your blood tested regularly. They help to tell you and your doctors if the medication is helping your arthritis or not, and if the medication is causing any side effects that you might not be aware of.
We would encourage you to keep this card on you at all times and to make sure it is filled in before you see the doctor. If you telephone for the results of your blood tests, or are given a print out from the doctors with the results on please feel free to enter these carefully on to the card. It will help save time for the doctor or nurse in clinic.
It is hoped that this information will help you understand more about your arthritis and help you to see how your arthritis is at any one time.
For more information please contact the Rheumatology department on 01865 737656 or the Arthritis Research Campaign web-site www.arc.org.uk
C 2283 / M Cox / J Flynn / Rheumatology Patient Information/ Version 3 / December2008
© Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre

What do all the different tests mean?
ESR
CRP
Hb
MCV
WBC
Neut
Plats
ALT and
ALP
Serum
Creatinine
BP
Urine range
Can vary depending on test used.
0- 8
11.8-16
80-95 fl
4-11
40-70% of
WBC
Or. 2.0-7.5
150-400
ALT 15-45
ALP 80-250
70-150 dependant on age
This test reflects how much inflammation your arthritis has caused. It is used to see how your arthritis improves with treatment.
This also measures inflammation, but can show changes quicker than the ESR. It is used to show how you are responding to the medication you are taking.
Hb or Haemoglobin is found in the red cells in the blood.
It helps transport Oxygen around the body. A lack of haemoglobin means you are anaemic.
This measures the average size of the red blood cell.
Along with the Hb test, it may help to show the cause of any anaemia or reflect a side effect of the medication.
White Blood count. This is the total number of white cells in the blood. An increase in these cells can indicate infection or, inflammation. A decrease in these cells can show a reduction in the body’s ability to fight infection.
Neutrophils are 1 of 5 different sorts of white blood cells. They are measured as a percentage of all the white cells in the blood. A reduction of neutrophils makes it harder for you to fight infection, and may be caused by your arthritis or as a reaction to the medication you are taking.
Platelets are another type of blood component. They are important in helping the blood to clot. A reduction in platelets among other things may show that you are having a reaction to your medication. An increase of platelets may be as a result of your arthritis.
These are tests to show any inflammation of your liver, which can occur as a side effect of your medication.
Some changes in the results of these tests may mean that your medication needs adjusting.
This test is a measure of how well your kidneys are working. This is also important, as it can be affected by your medication.
Blood Pressure is as a general test of your fitness.
Urine is tested for glucose, protein, and blood cells which may occur as a side effect of the drug or an infection.
C 2283 / M Cox / J Flynn / Rheumatology Patient Information/ Version 3 / December2008
© Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre

C 2283 / M Cox / J Flynn / Rheumatology Patient Information/ Version 3 / December2008
© Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre