I Passed My Rituxan Blood Test!

[kwarendorf]

I had my first 2 Rituxan infusions about 6 months ago. I had blood drawn last Saturday for monitoring purposes. I'm not sure what they were looking for (I'll take better notes next time.) But whatever it was they didn't find it, which is a good thing!

If they find "The Thing" it means the Rituxan is not working. If they had found it, I would likely have had another set of infusions now. I'm figuring this accounts for some of the different protocols I've read about. So next month another check. Don't touch that dial...

Kyle

[Jifr]

Glad to see riruxin info. I'm post 2 infusions but haven't seen the doc or had any follow-up testing yet. I think I have blood tests and 3 level MRI in June.

[PeninaD]

A new sofa would be nice!!! Maybe with a recliner in it???

At Mount Sinai, they call their Rituximab panel, "Lymphocyte Screen w/NK/B cells".

[immisceo]

What does she win?! Panina, I'd go for the Broyhill sofa.

Thanks for coming back with the details, Kyle. Interesting stuff!

[kwarendorf]

Penina is the winner!

"B & T Lymphocyte Panel ( must include CD19 cells)
[at Quest: Lymphocyte subset panel#2]
[at Labcorp: T and B Lymphocyte panel-test code 505015]"

[PeninaD]

Because different DMDs work on different pathways, these CD-19/CD-20 tests will only measure effectiveness of Rituxan and I think one other "mab".  So unfortunately, no, these tests won't tell anything about A/B/C injectable effectiveness.  There might be other tests, though..,anyone have more information on those?

[calamfred]

That's great news!

I didn't realize there were tests that could be run to see if the dmds are still effective for a person until my hubby's Neuro ran one to see if his Betaseron was still working. His tests showed it is, and we were certainly grateful for that! Sometimes modern medicine IS positive. :-)

Regards,
C

[PeninaD]

With Rituxan they want the CD-20 at or near zero....but most labs have to actually test for closely related CD-19...the name of the panel we have been using at Quest labs is Lymphocyte subset #1. It includes some NK (natural killer cells)

DD is also post her first doses of Rituxan, late Nov/early Dec, and so far is also still testing at zero...her doctor is having the tests done about every month to month and a half.

[kwarendorf]

Rumor has it they test for b cell count. Low is good.

[Corriel]

Congratulations Kyle! I am so happy for you that your latest treatment is playing nice.

Corrie

[Lulu54]

Woohooo!!!  For both of you.  that's good news, Kyle, since the doctors were smiling about it.  I haven't a clue what they look for in your Rituxan users so do tell when you find out more.

Immi - graduating to the next phase feels so good.  Thanks for making the efforts to continue with this trial - I know all too well what it can take to participate in one.  

I graduated last month with the once-daily baclofen trial - I now can wait and be seen in two months and then it goes to once every three months.  

It's all good news.
hooraays all around!
Laura

[immisceo]

Excellent! I'll be waiting to hear. Us monoclonal antibody folks do run into interesting tests and shifting protocols, don't we? May "The Thing" be ever absent.

In my own news, I'm now self administering my Daclizumab at home in one tiny monthly injection and get to pick them up in quarterly batches. This is a MAJOR downshift in my needed time/documentation commitment to this trial and just happened this Tuesday. After all the testing, to get that appointment for July after three and a half years of monthly... well, I got a little proud of myself.

This world of MS treatment is ever-shifting and it excites the heck out of me. Congrats, Kyle. (Make sure you take those notes!)