week 13 lab work,think i need rescue drugs ?

Question

i am genotype 2 treating for 24 weeks with 400mg ribavirin 2 x day and 180mg pegasus injection once a week.just did shot  # 14 three days ago.here are my labs.i think i need procrit and neupogen for low red and white blood count.im so tired,out of breath and weak.what does anyone have to think about my labs ? thankyou for any inputs.also how low do these levels im listing have to go till Dr puts you on rescue drugs ? am i anemic from drugs yet ?

WBC 2.2     ALERT   norm  4.0- 10.5
RBC  3.68   LOW     norm   3.80- 5.10
hemoglobin 11.9     norm 11.5- 15.0
hematocrit  33.8   LOW    norm  34.0- 44.0  
RDW  15.2   HIGH    norm  11.7- 15.0        ( whats this ??? )
NEUTROPHILS ( ABSOLUTE)  1.1    LOW    norm1.8-- 7.8

and under my comp.metabolic panel:

Glou Filt Rate,Est.   53.9  LOW   norm  60.0 - 128.0

mikesimon · Answer

ANC = absolute neutrophil count.
Yours is: "NEUTROPHILS ( ABSOLUTE)  1.1    LOW    norm1.8-- 7.8"

PRINCESS5122 · Answer

thanks for your input.what is ANC i dont see this on my lab work.could it be named something else ?

TeeVee36 · Answer

I started on Neupogen after my first lab results one week into tx.  I have been taking the Neupogen for the entire nine months.  I take Neupogen 3 times a week (tues, thurs, sat) and my counts are still low.  My most recent (2/19/08) lab results are as follows:

WBC 2.0
ANC 520

RBC 3.54
Hemoglobin 11.7

I am also taking Procrit every other Friday.  

My lowest WBC count was 1.8.

I agree with nygirl, your numbers seem ok.  My doctor would have put you on the Neopogen bases on your WBC and ANC.

Let your doctor know that you are concerned about your numbers.  The Neopogen and the Procrti are free for me under my insurance so if your insurance covers the cost it should not be a problem...

nygirl7 · Answer

Nope you are just fine. Docs won't give you epogen until your hemo falls to under 10 - it's a VERY expensive drug ($6,000 a box of only ten shots) and also has it's own problems. Your WBC is low but your abs neuts are ok...they can bounced up and down by themselves - in fact when I got to .500 I thought I would get them but doc said no wait and see what happens but they did go back up.