how does interferon make wbc drop?

[orphanedhawk]

Does anyone know how low wbc

[orphanedhawk]

Hi Bug!!!!
     I did run into something that mentions riba causing wbc problems as well. In my mind I'd thought wbc problems from interferon and rbc from riba. Maybe my wbc haven't improved because I'm still doing 800 ruba. I'll ask the BoyWonder ( my liverhead) when I see  him Thursday.
   I'm better at flowing with it then planning but I'm aiming for 8 months which would make my last shot on July 12. In general, I'm hanging in there but I've started noticing some different sx's.
   How's the grandbaby doing? Have your sons returned from thier holiday?
Has anyone heard from SFbaygirl?
       Big hugs and Love,    me

[ladybug52]

I tried to figure out this whole tx, blood test results thing with my informal survey. I guess I'll never make it as a researcher (darn, I was so close to changing careers)
Hope you're doing ok, have a date or planas to how long?
BIG Hugs,
Bug

[orphanedhawk]

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.
Yes, I've been taking neupogen. I've taken  300mg 2x weekly until recently when it was upped to 3x. That put me over the edge. So now I'm only doing it once and my interferon was reduced. My rbc and platelets are better but, my wbc have stayed the same, while my ANC have also remained low. The idea of lowering my dosage was that my neutrophils would rise and I could stop neup. altogether.    

[Kit07]

Hi that's a good question.  I used to know the answer but I forgot :-)  So  I scanned a bunch of articles and this was the best factoid I could come up with:   "A common side effect of interferon alfa therapy is bone marrow suppression and particularly a reduction in white blood cell counts. Absolute neutrophil and lymphocyte counts typically decrease by 30% to 50% of baseline during therapy with the doses of interferon required to treat hepatitis C....  "

The whole article is very intense and technical, but well-written if you are into that sort of thing.  White blood cells are manufactured by our bone marrow.  Neutrophils and lymphocytes are types of white blood cells.  Neutropenia is the technical name for low neutrophils.  A side effect of interferon is suppressed bone marrow function.  

The article and link:
Neutropenia during combination therapy of interferon alfa and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/hepC/Neutropenia.html

Orphan H, do I remember correctly that you are among those who is taking that nasty drug to promote white cell production?  I hated it.  It causes bone pain, joint pain and attitude pain.  Remember to let the vial warm up before you inject, it makes it less painful.

Good luck
Kit