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Taking Decitabine, With The Diagnosis MDS RAED-2. Neutrophil In Blood Much Lower Than Initially. Remedy?
Question: A patient was taking decitabine, with the diagnosis MDS RAED-2.
After three months since the decitabine (first cycle), the neutrophil and blood level are still much lower than initially started. In fact the neutrophil is now practically zero. Before the decitabine, the neutrophil was a lot higher (although lower than normal).
So right now I am trying to analyze the situation. It seems that before the decitabine, the stem cell in bone marrow still producing new cells, but of course some of the them are blast and thus the low count of blood. However, not after the decitabine and a period of three months, the neutrophil is still zero. Thus, a few possibilities may occur:
1. most of the stem cell in the bone marrow have been destroyed by the decitabine and thus not enough to produce the stem cell.
2. The stem cell is not a little bit aplastic anemia.
What do you think of the situation?
Thanks
After three months since the decitabine (first cycle), the neutrophil and blood level are still much lower than initially started. In fact the neutrophil is now practically zero. Before the decitabine, the neutrophil was a lot higher (although lower than normal).
So right now I am trying to analyze the situation. It seems that before the decitabine, the stem cell in bone marrow still producing new cells, but of course some of the them are blast and thus the low count of blood. However, not after the decitabine and a period of three months, the neutrophil is still zero. Thus, a few possibilities may occur:
1. most of the stem cell in the bone marrow have been destroyed by the decitabine and thus not enough to produce the stem cell.
2. The stem cell is not a little bit aplastic anemia.
What do you think of the situation?
Thanks
Brief Answer:
myelodysplastic syndrome
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXX,
Thanks for your query.
I am sorry to note that you have undergone complete neutropenia after taking chemotherapy with anti-metabolite drug Decitabine for MDS. Normally it should be associated with anemia, red cell depression, platelet depression (pancytopenia) when it will be termed as aplasia of the bone marrow.
with 0 percent neutrophills you are under threat of severe infection leading to septicemia. You need to be quarantined under the observation of competent hematologist. You have to hold the chemotherapy and be possibly be on supportive therapy with colony stimulating agents and erythropoitin. you have also to look for other causes leading to aplasia of the marrow like folicacid and B12 deficiency in addition to other agents as advised by your doctor.
Please follow strictly the advice of your treating competent hematologist or hemato-oncologist.
I wish you best of luck and quick recovery of the marrow.
Truly,
Dr. J. Ticku
myelodysplastic syndrome
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXX,
Thanks for your query.
I am sorry to note that you have undergone complete neutropenia after taking chemotherapy with anti-metabolite drug Decitabine for MDS. Normally it should be associated with anemia, red cell depression, platelet depression (pancytopenia) when it will be termed as aplasia of the bone marrow.
with 0 percent neutrophills you are under threat of severe infection leading to septicemia. You need to be quarantined under the observation of competent hematologist. You have to hold the chemotherapy and be possibly be on supportive therapy with colony stimulating agents and erythropoitin. you have also to look for other causes leading to aplasia of the marrow like folicacid and B12 deficiency in addition to other agents as advised by your doctor.
Please follow strictly the advice of your treating competent hematologist or hemato-oncologist.
I wish you best of luck and quick recovery of the marrow.
Truly,
Dr. J. Ticku
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Hi,
Many thanks for your reply.
We have tried neupogen, but it does not improve the neutrophil count at all. That is why I am confuse. Could it be there is no more potent stem cell left in the bone marrow? Now we need to do platelet once a week and red blood cell once every two weeks.
We have not tried the erythropoitin. The consultant did not advise us on this. Is it important? I should ask my consultant's advise?
Right now we still having fever, however the patient is feeling fine. The fever comes and goes irregularly. We cannot have time for the second cycle decitabine, feeling very helpless with this situation.
I was thinking since the neutrophil is 0, so the decitabine may not make it worse. So continuing the decitabine may not be a bad idea, since it has the possibility to increase the blood count. Is this a bad idea?
We are taking folic acid and B12 as supplement. So there should be no deficient in it.
I am right now very confuse about the dysplasia of the bone marrow. In fact we did bone marrow biopsy and it is hypocellular currently. It seems that the decitabine kills everything inside the bone marrow without letting it regenerate itself. Is this normal?
Many thanks for your reply.
We have tried neupogen, but it does not improve the neutrophil count at all. That is why I am confuse. Could it be there is no more potent stem cell left in the bone marrow? Now we need to do platelet once a week and red blood cell once every two weeks.
We have not tried the erythropoitin. The consultant did not advise us on this. Is it important? I should ask my consultant's advise?
Right now we still having fever, however the patient is feeling fine. The fever comes and goes irregularly. We cannot have time for the second cycle decitabine, feeling very helpless with this situation.
I was thinking since the neutrophil is 0, so the decitabine may not make it worse. So continuing the decitabine may not be a bad idea, since it has the possibility to increase the blood count. Is this a bad idea?
We are taking folic acid and B12 as supplement. So there should be no deficient in it.
I am right now very confuse about the dysplasia of the bone marrow. In fact we did bone marrow biopsy and it is hypocellular currently. It seems that the decitabine kills everything inside the bone marrow without letting it regenerate itself. Is this normal?
Brief Answer:
Myelodysplasia
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXX,
Thanks for reverting quickly,
You are already getting a good supportive therapy. It seems you have already undergone aplastic crisis for which blood and platelet transfusion along with neupogen is being given. Discuss with your doctor about the possiblity of ALG. and erythropoitin.
Alternative suppliment therapy with wheat grass may be given a trial. However you have to continue with the same management for some time and observe.
Truly,
Dr. j. Ticku
Myelodysplasia
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXX,
Thanks for reverting quickly,
You are already getting a good supportive therapy. It seems you have already undergone aplastic crisis for which blood and platelet transfusion along with neupogen is being given. Discuss with your doctor about the possiblity of ALG. and erythropoitin.
Alternative suppliment therapy with wheat grass may be given a trial. However you have to continue with the same management for some time and observe.
Truly,
Dr. j. Ticku
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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