Low Platelets & Hep C

[Ozzie62]

Does any one know what happens next...
Husband's platelet count down to 15 -  he's been on Inteferon & Ribaviron treatment for 6 weeks, put on hold for 2 weeks waiting for blood results to pick up...

Had Interferon + Ribaviron trial for 6 mths - cleared virus for 3 months but it came back - this was over 6 years ago

He's had the virus a long time (ex blood transfusion post surgery @ 19 year - he's now 56)

any one been down this road... wondering what lays before us???

Ozzie62

[Ozzie62]

Hi thanks for your feedback re the drugs that have been mentioned, I had read up on them and discovered that Neumega is what we might need to pursue, our GP mentioned a drug that could help has had some success with it before with another ITP patient so we are waiting for him to consult with the Hep Specialist first... can't remember what he called the drug .. probably have different names for them here in Australia.


His ferritin levels are through the roof also but the ALT & Bil levels have dropped back a lot so that was a good sign... just hope that if we can get platelets under control so he will be able to tolerate the treatment so that he can hopefully clear the virus for good.

We dont know the geno type or viral load... was sure there were test done for this but specialist hasn't advised these and cant find them on the results that we have copies of.

Thanks for your good wishes.
KB

[Ozzie62]

Platelets now 14 (or 14,000) waiting for GP to talk to Hep Specialist to see what course we can take, frustrating to not have answers but hopefully they can offer some hope...

Hubby feeling very ripped off... he's had such a healthy lifestlye... no drinking, smoking and a good low fat diet all his life.. just the luck of the draw (rusian roulette) when you needed to have blood transfusions for medical reasons they didn't know about blood born virus  like HCV back in the early 70's... I had a transfusion in the early 60's so there but for the grace of god....

We just have to trust the Dr's and hope that they can give us something to hope for...  hubby's keen to try to go one with the treatment so that he can finally clear the virus.

I don't know what you mean by the terms RVR or SVR ... is there a thread that explains all the terms on this site?
Thanks for your encouragement and comments.
KB

[mikesimon]

Neupogen will not help - it increases white blood cells and to my knowledge has no effect on platelet production.
Neumega is a drug that increases platelet production and it is something to consider if you can get it in Australia. It may be of benefit.
A platelet count of 15,000 is very low and some action should be taken. Discontinuation of interferon seems like the right response. Interferon often produces a decreased platelet count (thrombocytopenia) and cirrhosis is also associated with thrombocytopenia. If his platelet count before starting treatment was 40,000 it suggests that he may have some degree of cirrhosis.
Good luck, Mike

[gauf]

Are his platelets literally at 15?!  I assumed that 15 meant 150!  If it is at 15 literally, then I am a moron and you can disregard my previous posts!

[gauf]

Low platelets are common on tox. and most docs don't prescribe rescue drugs until counts reach 10 or so. 15 is low but still in the normal range (barely) and halting treatment can be disastrous to the odds of reaching SVR. I must be missing something though, because it makes no sense that the doc would halt treatment.

[gauf]

That sounds like a real blunder by his doc but I do not like to second guess a professional. Perhaps there is something else going on? Was he an RVR?