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What Does Drop In Hemoglobin Despite Blood Transfusions Suggest?
For the last fourteen months, my father who is age 80, has had to have approximately 16 units of blood due to blood loss. During all this trying to find the problem they found liver cancer, which was removed, two stints put in for his heart and discovered he has CLL Leukemia which is still under stage three. He has been to heart doctor, hemotologists, oncologists, primary care doctor and GI doctors. Has had such tests as double balloon procedure where they go down and try to find leakage, iron infusion, endoscopy and many other tests. Still have not found why his hemoglobin continues to drop even after having blood transfusions. Hope you can shed some light on this. Thank you
Wed, 1 Mar 2023
Hi,
A drop in hemoglobin despite blood transfusions can suggest several underlying medical conditions, including ongoing bleeding or hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells), inadequate iron absorption, bone marrow disorders, or kidney disease. Given your father's medical history of liver cancer and CLL leukemia, it's possible that the underlying cause of his low hemoglobin could be related to these conditions.
Liver cancer and its treatment can lead to blood loss and anemia. CLL leukemia can also cause anemia by suppressing normal red blood cell production in the bone marrow or causing the destruction of red blood cells. Additionally, chemotherapy and other treatments for CLL can affect the production of red blood cells, leading to anemia.
It's important to continue to work with your father's healthcare team to determine the underlying cause of his anemia and low hemoglobin levels. Further testing, including bone marrow biopsies, may be necessary to determine the cause. Treatment options may include additional blood transfusions, medication to stimulate red blood cell production or other therapies aimed at addressing the underlying condition.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Priyanka, General & Family Physician
A drop in hemoglobin despite blood transfusions can suggest several underlying medical conditions, including ongoing bleeding or hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells), inadequate iron absorption, bone marrow disorders, or kidney disease. Given your father's medical history of liver cancer and CLL leukemia, it's possible that the underlying cause of his low hemoglobin could be related to these conditions.
Liver cancer and its treatment can lead to blood loss and anemia. CLL leukemia can also cause anemia by suppressing normal red blood cell production in the bone marrow or causing the destruction of red blood cells. Additionally, chemotherapy and other treatments for CLL can affect the production of red blood cells, leading to anemia.
It's important to continue to work with your father's healthcare team to determine the underlying cause of his anemia and low hemoglobin levels. Further testing, including bone marrow biopsies, may be necessary to determine the cause. Treatment options may include additional blood transfusions, medication to stimulate red blood cell production or other therapies aimed at addressing the underlying condition.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Priyanka, General & Family Physician
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