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WBC and Imuran

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Lupus
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Posted 3/23/2010 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Everyone! I've just got my second work/urinalysis back from starting on Imuran. I'm just wondering what an average WBC and Neutrophils count are for most of us Lupies on Imuran. Mine's dropped to 3.1 last week...although it's been lower before. It's just more curiousity of what to possibly expect than anything for me. I'm wondering if typically it's expected to hang around the 3.0 mark unless I get an infection, or to maintain a lower number on a daily basis. I've only been on the med for 5 weeks now. Thanks in advance for your replies.

-Ellie
Posted 3/23/2010 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
You should be fine, but always monitor. I know that IBD research shows that most people have a favorable response to treatment if the WBC is <5.0. Not sure for lupus. I'm on 100mg of 6MP (similar to Imuran) and my WBC as of yesterday is 10.0. For some reason the 6MP (been on it for 10months) doesn't really affect my WBC all that much........
Posted 3/24/2010 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
I have taken imuran for over 4 years and after 18 months it lowered my WBC, RBC, and platelets.  Doc reduced me from 150 to 100 and then 50 and it stabilized.  Would have to look up the counts but they are all low normal now and I get it checked every 3 months.  That is a fairly common problem but not everyone has it.  Just get regular labs.

Bill

Posted 3/24/2010 4:43 AM (GMT 0)
Thank-you Bill and "Former" for replying. I guess I was just assuming (never a good idea to do that, eh?) that everyone on it has low WBC counts. It has been the norm for me since I've been diagnosed with lupus to have a low count...it's rarely been over 3.6 with all my numerous times of getting my counts done. It's just that these once a month tests I'll get done for my rheumy are watching for the Imuran and it's side effects with me. I noticed that my WBC count dropped from my normal number and was curious to think that it might drop more as a side effect of the new . I was thinking that without even considering that other people on it might not even have a problem with WBC counts...hmmmm interesting :) So one doesn't necessarily correlate to the other.

-Ellie
Posted 3/24/2010 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
I actually have a high white cell count and a hemetologist suggested it was from inflammation since my WBC count has been high except when I was in remission for years and there is no sign of infection or lukemia.
Posted 3/24/2010 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
My rheumy told me if my levels were low across the board then it's from Imuran. But if only one or two are low especially WBC it's from Lupus. My WBC has been as low as 2.7 since I was dx 5 years ago.

I also found out from my cardiologist that Pred can make your WBC high. When I was in the hospital a couple of weeks ago, she told me my WBC was 6, it hasn't been that high in a long time, I've also been on Pred since the beginning of Feb. Makes sense!
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