HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

At what point does it become a Neutropenia (Chronic low Neutrophils)?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/20/2017 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
I've had Neutropenia once before, a few years back, and had to drop my 6MP dosage to fix it. Dosage was increased again in response to a flare, staid at that higher dose with fairly normal numbers until the last 4-months. My numbers have been dropping again and my new gasteroenteroligist seems to be more laissez-faire about it.

At what point does it become a Neutropenia? Should I be screaming at this dude yet to lower my 6MP dosage haha?

Here's my current Hemogram And Differential results that are out of range. Note ABS Neutrophils...

Component..........Value..........Range..............
WBC...................3.22 (L).......4.0 - 10.4 K/cmm
RBC....................3.83 (L).....4.36 - 5.78 M/cmm
Hemoglobin.........13.6 (L).....13.8 - 17.3 gm/dl
HCT....................38.5 (L).....39.5 - 50.2 %
MCV...................101 (H)........81 - 95 fl
MCH...................35.5 (H).....27.6 - 33.0 pg
RDW-SD.............51.6 (H)......<46.0 fl
ABS Neutrophils...1.61 (L)......2.20 - 8.85 K/cmm
Posted 12/20/2017 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
My neutrophils are always low, lower than yours. For years now. The first couple of times my doctor had me retested. Then she didn't have me specifically retested for that, but every time I had a blood test for anything else she would note the neutrophils... Eventually she said "Well this seems to be your normal" and last time I had a blood test my neutrophils came back at 1.5. She didn't even call me.

The low neutrophils makes my WBC slightly out of range as well (it is part of the WBC I gather) so she doesn't blink at that either.

I can't comment on all the other numbers but most of them seem just barely out of range.

Anyway, that's just my experience, may not have any bearing on yours, but thought I'd share it.
Posted 12/20/2017 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
P.S. I am not and never have been on 6MP so maybe it's different when you are on it!
Posted 12/21/2017 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
wow, your bloodwork looks like mine on 6mp. I should pull up my old records. Mine got so bad at one point, I wasn't able to eat uncooked fruits or veggies, under-cooked meat/fish... It's all pretty borderline, but not ideal. The low WBC is getting down there, at what point is it a problem? Mine's gone a lower and they said it was okay.
Posted 12/21/2017 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
iPoop, your wbc count is fine I think. When I started 6MP I have read extensively on the scientific literature (guidelines etc). I remember that your WBC count should be lower than 4k, that is seen as a positive indicator (predictor) of 6-mp's effectiveness on your disease.

Don't panic, it's a desired count. Just keep having regular blood tests done and keep an eye on your WBC count (6mp can cause bone marrow suppresion). I would be a little worried if mine goes below 2.5k.

Post Edited (xy123) : 12/20/2017 7:02:37 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/21/2017 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, maybe I shouldn't worry then. As a number of you have had lower readings and it wasn't much concern. I'll keep watching it for sure. I'll think of this like a game of golf, and the high/low value range as Par! I'm below par wooh!

I see my doc in early January and I'll quiz him then. Suggest going from 75mgs to 50mgs of 6MP.
Posted 12/21/2017 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
I remember my WBC hung out around 3.5 for a couple years the first time I was on Imuran. GI watched it but never was concerned about it..
Posted 12/21/2017 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
I've had chronic neutropenia for years now and my GI doctor will not lower my simponi dosage so I take it every 5-6 weeks instead of every 4 weeks. I don't tell him that I do this but it seems to make a difference in my numbers so they aren't so low. Granted, I get sick (cold, flu, pneumonia, bronchitis) EVERY 4-6 weeks or so. I am not even kidding. I go to work coughing/sneezing/no voice/nauseous/fever more often than not so all my patients ask me if I am sick or not when they see me ( I work in a doctor's office). I can't count how many time I have seen my PCP but it's usually 2-3 times a month for various issues.

My oncologist suggested to lower the dosage to 50 mg monthly injections but my GI doctor did not agree with him. He also recommended neupogen injections to stimulate WBC growth if I felt that my life was very affected by this.

It's honestly a pain and I wish I wasn't sick constantly. I'd drop the dosage of 6mp even if your doctor doesn't support you. I did that with my imuran because it's a pill so I could cut it in half.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply