low number of wbc, rbc and platlets

[budity]

I took my 7th injection last week and my doc told me the no of wbc, rbc and platlets are lowering and she start taking blood every week to monitor them.......if the number reach the critical lower limit, she told me, we will stop the injection at leat for one week and reduce no. of the daily tablet.

Is it normal to experience such condition with in two months of tx......am i in risk to dicontinue the medication?.....has any one been in such condition? please comment

Thanks

[newleaf09]

Mouse: are you saying platelets of 60 or 60,000?  Dose reduction of interferon is not usually required until you dip to 50,000.

Budity: It's not weird to have you in for extra monitoring if you are crashing.  I lasted a little longer than you before going south, but not much.  It took 5 1/2 mos. to stabilize HGB and neutrophils but my platelets are still crashing.  

If you have access to rescue drugs. Procrit will increase hemoglobin but it takes several weekly shots; Neulasta (also called Neupogen) will immediately correct low neutrophils.  The rescue drugs are quite expensive (neulasta in the $1000's) but can keep you from dose reduction of the riba or interferon.  However, if your platelets go below 50,000 there is no other way to recover them but to reduce the interferon (no rescue drugs for platelets are approved yet).

I cleared the virus extremely early so it's not as anxious for me to reduce.  I've been reduced to 84% of interferon and to 40% of interferon and have been on 84% for some time with no breakthrough.  My platelets are down to 36,000 now and I will do the same thing as you and go for bloodwork today so they can decide how far to reduce my interferon.  I expect to delay my shot by 3 days and then reduce to 40% again.  Then they'll have me back for bloodwork again next week.  I just do as I am told.

You are awfully early in treatment to be reducing the ribavirin.  Studies show that keeping it at full strength is more important than keeping the interferon at full strength.  If you have any opportunity to use the Procrit instead of ribivirin dose reduction, you should.  If you have to reduce the riba, be ready to bug them about going back to full dose ASAP.

You are NOT at risk for discontinuing, just a temporary adjustment of doses.  Most people's blood eventually adjusts to the meds.

[FloridaMouse]

How low are your counts.  The most important red blood cell to watch is your hemaglobin and the most important white blood cell count to watch is your ANC (absolute neutrophil count a/k/a granulocyte count).

Why will your doctor not prescribe you any rescue drugs such as Neupogen for your white count or Procrit for your red count?  My hgb went in the tank very early on in treatment and I was prescribed Aranesp injections every 2 weeks.  My Aranesp prescription was written the minute my hgb hit 10.5 and by the time I got through all the insurance red tape my hgb was 9.8.  My ANC went as low as  700 but I managed to avoid dose reduction or neupogen.   I've know people who have been able to stay on treatment without a dose reduction with platelets as low as 60.

Taking a dose reduction or interupting treatment within in the first 12 weeks is not a good thing and could severly hinder your chances at SVR.  Just my 2 cents.

Mouse