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Suggest Treatment For Severe Anemia When Diagnosed With COPD
Question: My mother is 83 yrs old and has had polycthemia for ten years. She has been on analgrelide and hydroxurea. The chemo tablets have now been stopped due to severe anemia. She has just been diagnosed with COPD after a bout of illness. Her hands are now sore with skin breaking and she has a large scab on her nose. She also has been found to have a vitamin B12 deficiency and is having injections for this. I was wondering if this is the spent phase of polycthemia. If so ,what is the prognosis as I need to make a decision if it is time for her to live with me.
Brief Answer:
Bone marrow biopsy is necessary for confirmation, possibly nutritional
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. Bone marrow biopsy will be necessary for confirmation of spent phase.
2. However, at present, it could be secondary to nutritional deficiency. Better picture can be obtained through a bone marrow biopsy or after correction of nutrition.
3. At present, side effects of medications along with dehydration and possible pancytopenia secondary to Vit B12 deficiency could be leading to anemia, skin breaking and scabs.
4. If it is indeed spent phase, it could be a prelude to possible leukemia. However, I think it could be more of a nutritional cause.
5. She will require a full-time care-taker to manage her, especially with severe anemia, weakness and a compounding COPD along with increasing age. Care-taker support will be necessary to manage medications, diet, nutrition and other essential activities.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Bone marrow biopsy is necessary for confirmation, possibly nutritional
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. Bone marrow biopsy will be necessary for confirmation of spent phase.
2. However, at present, it could be secondary to nutritional deficiency. Better picture can be obtained through a bone marrow biopsy or after correction of nutrition.
3. At present, side effects of medications along with dehydration and possible pancytopenia secondary to Vit B12 deficiency could be leading to anemia, skin breaking and scabs.
4. If it is indeed spent phase, it could be a prelude to possible leukemia. However, I think it could be more of a nutritional cause.
5. She will require a full-time care-taker to manage her, especially with severe anemia, weakness and a compounding COPD along with increasing age. Care-taker support will be necessary to manage medications, diet, nutrition and other essential activities.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Answered by
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