Can Rebif Cause Lymphocytopenia?

Hi all,

About a week ago I reported that I felt very unwell...... I saw my neurologist and he said that becuase I had recently had an increase in dosage of rebif it could be making me feel unwell. My symptoms were painful spacticity and urinary difficult (which were all new to me) and I'd swear I was having a relpase. I felt sicker than ever before with MS. The tightness in my legs was horrible (thats where I am caught) I dont seem to be able to differentiate between what is a relapse and what are just everyday MS symptoms made worse by lack of sleep, heat or stress etc.

Abnormal bloods were as follows:

High hb count, High red blood cell count and lymphocytes were 0.6 (which I believe is low) I dont think the consultant has seen the results and I haven't discussed them with him so I dont know what they mean.   ? or if its significant

Urine dipstick at the time was fine. But this evening its totally off mark and dark purple for the presence of lymphocytes.

Does anyone know if perhaps rebif can cause blood lymphocytes to be low (and if this is abnormally low at 0.6 why?) and if lymphocytes low in blood why an abnormal presence in urine?

Seriously confused.......

S

[sllowe]

Sharon,

Were CBCs run on you during your workup for MS? I'll admit I'm not so versed in the blood lymphocytes and my knowledge runs only on more general stuff like low WBC counts, etc.

Rebif can cause blood cell count changes. My WBC were low once from it. I went off for a few weeks and returned and am now fine.

Otherwise what you describe does sound very much like a relapse especially the spasticity and difficulty urinating. Rebif would not have had much time to work on relapses for you yet since you just started the full dose. It takes time.

I had a hard time differentiating MS symptoms from meds early on because I started meds so early in my dx - I was confused. I wasn't feeling well either and thought to myself...is this what my MS is going to be like now? (I had started to recover a bit from some larger issues) Then I thought is this what the meds are going to be like now? So on and so on.....

Best thing you can do today is jot this down in that little book they give you - I know, it's a pain, but you dont' have to do it forever, just for little bit.  I don't think it's anything to be worried about, but when do you go to Dr. for results? Or, will he call to discuss?

-shell

[scared341]

Here is what I am reading from a table  "************** for MS":

Agent:

Interferon beta-1a and interferon beta-1b

Notes:
Immunomodulatory
Reduction in relapse rate and accural of neurologic disability
Flu-like symptoms, fatigue, injection site reactions, liver chemistry abnormalities, depression
Dosing depends on specific agent used
Pre-and postinjection acetamiminophen or NSAIDs may reduce flu-like symptoms
Monitoring ot CBC and liver chemistry is required every 6 months
FDA class C drug - should not be used during pregnancy or lactation

I hope you are getting better and  it helps a little.

[scared341]

I can not edit here.  The table should read ************** for MS

[scared341]

drug    treatment