Hi. A Friend Of Mine Was Diagnosed With Chronic Lymphocytic

Posted on Sun, 14 Apr 2019

Question: Hi. A friend of mine was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in 2013. He was given chemotherapy and is cancer free since early 2014. However his immune system never recoverd and he received intravenus imminoglobulin treatment. This past week his body had an alergic reaction so he is now being prescribed the a new treatment of Imbruvica with a daily pill of 140 mg. His levels currently are: IGa is 5, his IGg is 121 and his IGm is also 5. Do you think Imbruvica can stimulate via his bone marrow his own production of immuniglobulin? The other option appears to be a bone marrow transplant

Answered by Dr. Dr. Esmeralda Sera (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Ibrutinib

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking

IMBRUVICA blocks a protein in B cells called Bruton’s tyrosine kinase,. BTK signaling is needed for B cells to multiply and survive
By blocking BTK, IMBRUVICA may help move abnormal B cells out of their nourishing environments in the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and other organs,due to this action maybe improved the level of immunoglobulin production.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Esmeralda Sera (3 hours later)

thank you for your answer. A quick follow up question. In my friends case, if following weeks of taking Imbruvica as prescribed by his doctors, if he now starts to produce sustained levels of immunoglobulin production will he be able to avoid the bone marrow transplant and have a strong auto immune system by himself (no injections would be requiered)?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Esmeralda Sera (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Ibrutinib

Detailed Answer:
Hi again

The use of this medication does not guarantee long-lasting results, that mine that if the medication stop working than the transplant of bone marrow its next step

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D