Aa
told to stop interferon
Had cbc today. wbc 1.8
anc .8
hgb 9.2
plt 40
My GP called my hep dr. and he said to stop the interferon and have cbc next week. In my opinion, I think we should be discussing reduction in dosage, not stopping. But I have had this sort of issue with my dr. in the past....
What do you guys think?
Jean
anc .8
hgb 9.2
plt 40
My GP called my hep dr. and he said to stop the interferon and have cbc next week. In my opinion, I think we should be discussing reduction in dosage, not stopping. But I have had this sort of issue with my dr. in the past....
What do you guys think?
Jean
I also noticed that my blood is being monitored for it's clotting time each time I have my safety bloods done, so perhaps yours is too. And with the number that you have quoted you are at risk of bleeding without injury.
My platelets have been steadily dropping since I started tx in May. In June they were at 176, and now they are at 82. It is marked on my blood reports as Thrombocytopenia, it is a common side effects of chemotherapy drugs.
LOW BLOOD PLATELET COUNT (Thrombocytopenia, low PLT)
Platelets help blood to clot. They are found in the blood flowing through the blood vessels. Platelets also line the inside of the blood vessel. When low blood platelet count is present, this layer thins and tiny drops of blood can leak through the spaces made when this layer thins, causing red dots on the skin called petechiae (pa-TEE-kee-eye).
Normal Platelet Count 150,000 - 400,000 cells/mm3
Note: Normal values will vary from laboratory to laboratory.
When low blood platelet count present a person is at an increased risk of bleeding.
Risk of Bleeding is based on the Platelet Count
100,000 - 149,000 cells/mm3 Little to no risk of bleeding
50,000 - 99,000 cells/mm3 Increased risk of bleeding with injury
20,000 - 49,000 cells/mm3 Risk of bleeding increased without injury
10,000 - 19,000 cells/mm3 Risk of bleeding greatly increased
Less than 10,000 Spontaneous bleeding likely
And yes, I also read that Numega is a rescue drug for this.
Perhaps you should see a haematologist?
Here is a link that has more info:
http://www.chemocare.com/managing/low_blood_counts.asp
LOW BLOOD PLATELET COUNT (Thrombocytopenia, low PLT)
Platelets help blood to clot. They are found in the blood flowing through the blood vessels. Platelets also line the inside of the blood vessel. When low blood platelet count is present, this layer thins and tiny drops of blood can leak through the spaces made when this layer thins, causing red dots on the skin called petechiae (pa-TEE-kee-eye).
Normal Platelet Count 150,000 - 400,000 cells/mm3
Note: Normal values will vary from laboratory to laboratory.
When low blood platelet count present a person is at an increased risk of bleeding.
Risk of Bleeding is based on the Platelet Count
100,000 - 149,000 cells/mm3 Little to no risk of bleeding
50,000 - 99,000 cells/mm3 Increased risk of bleeding with injury
20,000 - 49,000 cells/mm3 Risk of bleeding increased without injury
10,000 - 19,000 cells/mm3 Risk of bleeding greatly increased
Less than 10,000 Spontaneous bleeding likely
And yes, I also read that Numega is a rescue drug for this.
Perhaps you should see a haematologist?
Here is a link that has more info:
http://www.chemocare.com/managing/low_blood_counts.asp
More on Eltrombopag (from 2007):
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/357/22/2227
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/357/22/2227
Unfortunately, Neumega (oprelvekin) has its own side effects, one of them being to exacerbate anemia, among other things:
From http://www.drugs.com/ppa/oprelvekin.html:
“Advise that most patients who receive oprelvekin develop anemia.”
This is not hemolytic anemia that we develop with ribavirin, but it reduces hemoglobin just the same. Over the years of reading in here, I’ve only run across two people that have been Rx’d Neumega for suppressed platelets related to HCV treatment; and I don’t recall their treatment outcome. You might ask your doctor about it, and see what he says.
There is another drug; Eltrombopag, that has been in trial, and is near release that will stimulate platelet production. You might inquire about this also, however, I don’t believe it is commercially available yet.
Best of luck to you--
Bill
From http://www.drugs.com/ppa/oprelvekin.html:
“Advise that most patients who receive oprelvekin develop anemia.”
This is not hemolytic anemia that we develop with ribavirin, but it reduces hemoglobin just the same. Over the years of reading in here, I’ve only run across two people that have been Rx’d Neumega for suppressed platelets related to HCV treatment; and I don’t recall their treatment outcome. You might ask your doctor about it, and see what he says.
There is another drug; Eltrombopag, that has been in trial, and is near release that will stimulate platelet production. You might inquire about this also, however, I don’t believe it is commercially available yet.
Best of luck to you--
Bill
My doctor does not use Numega for hcv patients, don't remember why though, i think there are alot of issues with it. There is platelet transfusions, but from what i was told its alast resort and only a short term fix.
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