Anemia - Procrit

[lrup1952]

Is it possible to get through treatment without becoming anemic to the point of needing to take Procrit?  I won't do a blood transfusion (medical team aware) and Procrit seems really risky.  Any other choices should the need arise?

Thanks

[Anne1717]

Hi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you are well!  Hijack

[flcyclist]

During my 48 wk trt on Inf/Riba my rbc rarely went below 11.0.  My ANC (wbc), however, tanked and I need rescue drugs (neupogen) throughout most of the trt.  

[ppmguy]

hey irup,  i was on triple tx for 1 year, and i made it thru without rescue drugs. my wbc went as low as 1.5, and my hemoglobin as low as 10.5.  protocol calls for a int. reduction to 135mcg and hemo. is low but stable.  we cut my riba in the 8th month by 1 pill(200mg) a week.  i had interferon reductions twice. i am  now 6 weeks post tx and still und.          tx will get easier to handle once biologic drugs become generic in a few months, as obamacare progresses.            barry

[willbb]

it possible to get through treatment without becoming anemic to the point of needing to take Procrit?  
-------------------------------

Yes....the fact is that "most " patients doing HCV therapy "Do Not" become anemic  shown by reasearch data (below)

http://www.clinicaloptions.com/inPractice/Hepatology/Hepatology/ch8_Mgmt_of_Hep_C_Infection/Pages/Page%2012/Subpage%202.aspx


Aprrox only 45 -50% experience anemia to the point of intervention on Vic

and

Aprrox.  36% on Incivek

Therefore most do not need intervention

Best

Will

[FlGuy]

Procrit has risks but used in accordance and with medial oversight the risks are limited.  First treatment (without) I dragged my butt around and was generally a bump on a log with respect to home life and work.  Second time worked with doc to maintain hgb at 11.  What a difference in all aspects!  

[Idyllic]

On triple therapy it is possible. In fact In Incivek (telaprevir) clinical trials Procrit (erythropoietin) was prohibited and anemia was managed through Riba dose reductions.

What is your current Hgb? Is it close to 10 g/dL? That is when intervention is often considered. Normally reducing  Riba by increments of 200 is the first step. It could be more than that but you need to have another CBC to see how that works - plus you can (kind of ) tell by how you feel though it takes a few days.

I am not sure what you read about Procrit or the risks you are concerned about but the studies show that SVR is not jeopardized with Riba dose reductions.

http://www.clinicaloptions.com/Hepatitis/Treatment%20Updates/HCV%20New%20Agents/Module/Practical_Guide/Pages/Page%206.aspx

Here are a few related links
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/HCV---Incivek-Tx/show/1790505

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Hemoglobin-levels-and-anemia-on-Incivek-Inf-Riba/show/1694740