HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

macrocytosis?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/4/2011 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
hi there- so lately my blood work has come back with "giant" red blood cells- we have checked & re-checked, & all the likely culprits (B12/folate deficieny, anemia) are not causing it. My B12 & folate levels are ok, so is my iron, a bit on the low side but not much. Apparently the chemo drugs (6MP/Imuran) also cause this. So I have to go to a hematologist for further work up- which sounds a bit extreme, no? I'm not sure what to think- on the one hand, I'd like to know what is causing this, but on the other hand it seems fairly obvious it's the meds. I don't want to stop Imuran, or Humira, but... anyone else have similar lab results?
Posted 3/5/2011 12:53 PM (GMT 0)
Mine were a little fatter but not giant like yours. They are keeping an eye on me. I didn't know it could be from Imuran/6mp though. How did you find this out?
Posted 3/5/2011 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
the med connection? My GI talked about it, & after looking into the possible causes of macrocytosis, certain chemo drugs are linked to it- the purine antagonists. Like 6MP & Imuran! Nice, huh? I'm not overly concerned, but am sort of dreading stopping Imuran, if it comes down to that. Who knows though, maybe I'd do fine on just Humira & Asacol. How long have your labs been coming back with larger red blood cells, a while now? And what does your GI have to say about it, anything?
Posted 3/5/2011 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
My GI doesn't say much about this, just that he wants to keep an eye on it. I am supposed to go in for my routine blood test this month so we will see what it says, but for the past 2 blood tests (6 months) have shown my rb cells to be a bit larger.
Posted 3/5/2011 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
let's keep each other posted! Interesting, huh? I'm sort of curious as to what a hematologist will say, but I think at this point I'm going to opt to either quit entirely, or lower the dose of Imuran, then recheck my blood in 3 months. I'm not really interested in much other medical appt's, procedures, etc! How long have you been on the 6MP, & is it a high dose? For me, Imuran for about 4 years, the bulk of those at my current dose, 150mgs/day.
Posted 3/6/2011 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
I'm on a relatively low dose of 6mp because my liver can't handle going higher. I'm on 50mgs which is equivalent to 100mgs of your Imuran. I've been on it for almost 5 years. Is the Humira working for you? Perhaps you don't need the Imuran anymore?
Posted 3/6/2011 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
you may be right- but I'm afraid to stop taking it! I'm of the mindset "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Things are going pretty well, usually, so...... I'm loathe to stop a med. I should be hearing from the hematology people this week regarding an appointment.
Posted 3/7/2011 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
Macrocytosis is caused by the drug Imuran.  As far as I have been able to determine from all of the doctors that I have spoken to, it is nothing to be concerned about.  Imuran works, I believe, through the bone marrow, which is responsible for creating new blood cells.  These new RBCs are very large.  My red blood cells are huge and increase in size every month.  However, because of the macrocytosis, one doctor did have my B12 level checked just to be sure that nothing else was going on and I was found to be B12 deficient (possibly caused by UC and the inability to absorb properly).  If you are feeling relatively well, I don't know that I would be too concerned about macrocytosis.  It is a common side effect of the drug.  It will be interesting to find out what you find out. 

All the best.

Posted 3/7/2011 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
Weird. My signature is missing half of my information for some reason and shows that I am on prednisone which is not the case.......How did that happen?
Posted 3/8/2011 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
after looking into the oversized cells, I'm really not too concerned. I have an appt. with a hematologist 3/18, but really am not sure if it's even necessary. I suppose I will go though, because the hematologist may say it's fine to stay on the Imuran, the macrocytosis is no big deal. And my GI doesn't know that! I think he'd rather be safe than sorry, which I'm ok with. My B12 & folate levels are alright, so is my iron, which one initially assumes is deficient with macrocytosis.

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply