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Question: Lupus and low platelet count??

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Posted 2/5/2009 1:35 PM (GMT 0)
My cousin has recently been diagnosed with Lupus, but she also has a very low platelet count. Just wondering if anyone has experienced a similar situation because the doctors still do not know what meds to put her on to control the constant drop of her platelet count.

Thanks!
Posted 2/5/2009 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
jewellz21

I am not the best one for this advice. 

I have not had this symptom that I know of.  BUt all of my life until I went through menopause, I was anemic.  now my blood count has been a 12.

I don't think low platelet means anemic. 

http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_ha/sec3/ch49/ch49c.html

A low platelet count (called thrombocytopenia) refers to an abnormally low number of platelets, the particles in blood that help with clotting. As a result, blood does not clot normally.

 

Someone with better knowledge I have that will arrive to help you.

Hester

Posted 2/5/2009 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jewelzz,

 

I have a low platelet count too.  It's called Thrombocytopenia.  Platelets are the blood clotting part of the blood.  If the count is too low (like your cousin and I) there is an increased risk of bleeding.  If the count is too high, there is a risk of clotting.

 

To medicate my Lupus, I'm on Imuran and Prednisone.  

 

I hope your cousin gets the medication sorted out for her.  Keep us posted okay,

 

Ginny

Posted 2/5/2009 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ginny and Hester,

Thank you for your replies...I will pass this knowledge along to my aunt and uncle as my cousin is only 13 years old.

Ginny - you mentioned you are on Imuran and Prednisone to medicate your Lupus, but does that help with the thrombocytopenia as well??

Thanks!

Jules
Posted 2/5/2009 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jules,

 

Yes, getting the proper treatment (whatever that will be for your cousin), will help or even correct the low platelet count. It's a matter of getting the disease process quiet.  Once it's quiet, the body can repair itself and normalize (as much as possible). 

 

If the doctors are having trouble coming up with a medication formula, your cousin must have some additional issues to go along with Lupus that makes all this more complicated? 

 

I would encourage your aunt and uncle to at least view some of the threads and posts here.  The more knowledge they have, the better off your cousin will be. You are doing your family huge benefits by asking questions here.  They're very blessed to have you in their lives!

 

Talk to you soon!

Ginny

Posted 2/12/2009 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
Jewell,

Low platelet count is common with lupus and some other AI diseases.  Mine were below 25 at one point.  They had been low for 20 years but i was otherwise asymptomatic and very healthy until 2004 when they dropped even lower.  it was another 9 months before other symptoms appeared and a diagnosis of lupus and then mctd could be made.  My internist initially sent me to a hematologist thinking I had cancer, leukemia, or a bone disease.  That doctor speculatd that I might have lupus 2 months before I became symptomatic.  He had come to that conclusion by a process of elimination.

However, there are many diseases and conditions that can cause low platelets.  As far as I know the treatment is for whatever the underlying cause is.  I was not given any meds until diagnosed.  Once my disease was under control platelets eventually returned to a more normal range.  Some meds for treating AI diseases can lower platelets.  I had to reduce imuran because it was hitting my rbc, wbc and platelets.  After lowering it those returned to normal levels.

Bill

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