Low Neutrophils

[Diana66]

Since I started tx with a base of 1.64 I have been flaoting around the 0.56-0.7-0.88-1.05 for the last 14 weeks

Today all of a sudden I bottomed to 0.3. This is on an already reduced Interferon dose of 135. I am waiting to hear from the doctor now of what the plan is but would this sudden drop be just from the Interferon or is it possible to have other reason as well

2 weeks after the Incivek: Hemoglobin at 10.1, Platelets at 58 so only the Neutrophils are the problem

Any ideas, suggestions?

[lisa108]

Wish you the best Diana ! My riba has been reduced to 600mg per day because of the low hemoglobine. Doctor says that it will not comprise the result of tx. I didn't  want to reduce the dose but I have to follow the doctor. I understand that you're not feeling very comfortable about this, I know the feeling. I felt the same when reduced riba. We want so much to get rid of this virus and we have been suffering so much with tx.

I hope all goes well for you. Let us know the lab results. Sending you POSITIVE energy !!! :)

[Advocate1955]

"I agree with you that if you were to have a breakthrough or a relapse, it would likely be due to the allele."

I need to correct the statement I made above.  

We don't know currently know that potential treatment failures are due to genetics.  Genetics is thought to be a contributing factor, resistance another, and compliance another.  There are many other factors as well.

Currently we do not know specifically why some people have a viral breakthrough, some people relapse, or some people in other ways fail treatments.  We do know that approximately 21% of treatment naives did fail treatment with triple therapy with Incivek in trial studies.  

For those of you who are currently on triple therapy with Incivek, do not miss any doses of any of your three treatment meds.  If you do, make sure to follow the dosing guidelines regarding when to take your next dose, and contact your treating doctor right away.  I want to clarify that one's chances of SVR are improved with adherence to dosing protocols.  

Advocate1955

[Advocate1955]

Diana, the most likely explanation for your neutrolenia is, in my opinion, your treatment meds. If you get a chance to ask your treating doc, I would be interested in knowing why he does not want to prescribe Neupogen for you to support your bone marrow in producing neutrophils. Obviously your specialists know far more than I do, so I am interested in learning. And obviously your case is more complex than others due to your history of lymphoma. I agree with you that if you were to have a breakthrough or a relapse, it would likely be due to the allele. There is also the unknown component of the resistant strands of virus that mutate either when Incivek is stopped or when Interferon is stopped. There is much still to learn about poor response to Interferon and about resistant virus. But we are getting ahead of ourselves, because you are still on treatment, and you won't find out til later today if you will need to reduce your interferon again. Best wishes, and of course follow the advice of your doctors.
Advocate1955

[Diana66]

And I thank you everyone for the suggestions

I might have been expressed it wrongly but the initial purpose of my questions was to find out if there are any other reasons for neutrophils to bottom except interferon

I was at that stage wondering if any other viral infection such as flu or low level bacterial infection such as root canal can be a reason for the drop

I guess since for the last few days I did not have a fever I can eliminate that

[can-do-man]

"Any ideas, suggestions?"

Since you started this thread and asked, people were kind enough to answer. But you and your doctors seems to have the answers you need.

[rivll]

Wishing you all the best, Diana.