Peg/Copeg treatment & swollen ankles

[HectorSF]

Anyone out there who has experienced swollen ankles and feet while taking Pegasys and Copegus? They started getting swollen about a week ago. I haven't seen it in the literature.
C
ould it be caused by my cirrhosis? My docs said that I may be on of the few people whose liver is made worst by the treatment for my Hep C. My liver being too far-gone to handle the treatment.

The only other symptoms of cirrhosis I had when I started treatment was low palettes and low white blood cell count, and a enlarged spleen and varices due to portal hypertension.

In the last few weeks my bilirubin has increased from about 1.4 to about 3.7. And I have slight itching desire. (Sounds like a Jimi Hendrix lyric!)
I'm on my 6th week of treatment.

Cheers!
HectorSF

[sldb]

I do wish you the best of Luck with your tx.. let me know how you are doing.....Good Health

[HectorSF]

Hi sldb.

I just wanted to follow up, with you and anyone else who this info may be helpful to, with some of the results of my blood tests that I had done today after about a week when I have been experiencing swollen ankles and feet. This is my 7th week of Pegasus/Copegus treatment. I am still waiting on Albumin and Viral Load results. (Note: I have cirrhosis, with enlarged spleen and portal hypertension).

It looks like you were right on point when you mentioned my platelets. Right now that is the main concern that may force me to stop treatment. When I was originally diagnosed last May when my platelets were about 70,000. So they are going down, down, down.

Note from my Gastroenterologist:

He has 1 plus pitting edema bilaterally, otherwise he looks well.
His bilirubin today is 2.9. the last result 2/22/08 was 3.5 (this was the highest value).
Lft's today have gone down. Ast 115 (down from 156) and ALT is 65 (down from 91).
His WBC count today is 2.2 which is down from last week's value of 2.8.
And his platelets are now 39,000 down from last week's value of 48,000.
We discussed possible Neutropenia treatment, but will hold on this for now and observe the WBC next week.
All this info has been forwarded to my dr. up at UCSF Transplant Center.

So to me this is good news as I have been able to continue with my Peg/Copeg treatment for another week. And was worried my cirrhosis was decompensating my liver.

Thanks again for your advice. It was very helpful!!!
Cheers!
HectorSF

[HectorSF]

Thanks for your feedback! Much appreciated.

I'm not sure what my platelets levels are but I know they have remained stable so far during treatment as will all other blood levels except bilirubin as I mentioned. I will find out the exact numbers when I see my Gastroenterologist this Friday. On Friday I will be getting CBC, LFTs, albumin and hep c viral load tests.

Thanks for "the push"!!!
That I should be watched closely, is exactly what my Doc at the UCSF transplant center said. She thought that my liver's response to the meds will show itself one way or another in the next few weeks.
I will email my UCSF doc now so she is aware of this new development.
It's never smooth sailing for long with this disease and treatment. ;-)

Thank much again.
Cheers!

HectorSF

[sldb]

You should get this checked out as soon as possible.  How low was your plat. count pre tx?  The meds will drop your plat count even lower , and if you already had a low plat count you need to be watched closly. Is weekly blood work being done on you?