AIHA

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Bonnie.....going there now.

On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 14:52:03 -0500, BonnieGoodhart

<goody.dogs@...> wrote:

>

> and Lori - Go the www.clltopics. org. You'll see a list of

> topics on the left hand side of the page. Go down the page til you come

> to AIHA and click on it. gives a good description and

> explanation.

>

> Bonnie

>

> Re: Relapse/ Me too

> >

> > - sounds very similar - Since I posted yesterday, I also noticed

> > new

> > lymph nodes, they were not there two weeks ago - Can't figure out what

> > is

> > causing the lymph adenopathy, there aren't THAT MANY white cells and

> > lymphocytes -

> > So both the SLL/CLL and the AIHA are active - I have no doubt that

> the

> > increase in activity is related, as it is CLL cells which are the

> > trigger for red

> > cell murder in AIHA - So, more CLL cells, more AIHA - Today I'm going

> to

> > bug Dr.

> > about a CT Scan, although that really will not do much do

> affect

> >

> > course of TX, which will be Rituxan, no doubt- -

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks, .

Re: Relapse/ Me too

> >

> > - sounds very similar - Since I posted yesterday, I also noticed

> > new

> > lymph nodes, they were not there two weeks ago - Can't figure out what

> > is

> > causing the lymph adenopathy, there aren't THAT MANY white cells and

> > lymphocytes -

> > So both the SLL/CLL and the AIHA are active - I have no doubt that

> the

> > increase in activity is related, as it is CLL cells which are the

> > trigger for red

> > cell murder in AIHA - So, more CLL cells, more AIHA - Today I'm going

> to

> > bug Dr.

> > about a CT Scan, although that really will not do much do

> affect

> >

> > course of TX, which will be Rituxan, no doubt- -

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Daxter,

You are on a " high dose " of prednisone already, so the 40 mg vs 80 mg may not be

so much a problem to you. Results with your AIHA is what is important. Listen

carefully to your MD and if you feel the need seek a second opinion.

Good health and good luck,

Dan Hill

AIHA

Hi,

I am a newbie on this list and am asking those that do get AIHA, what

kind of food, supplements, seasonings I should avoid, so that my body

won't swell and the cushinoid features won't be so severe. Presently I

am on 40 mg. of Prednisone rather than 80 mg (at my insistance).

Cheers,

Del Woodward,

Kimberley, B.C.

Canada

dx'92

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Del - Prednisone is Prednisone - it'll make you swell up - I think there is

little you can do about it, as far as diet is concerned - Be encouraged,

however, I had it last fall, gained about 15 pounds, it's all back to normal now

- temporary -

In a message dated 4/10/2005 7:10:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

delwoody@... writes:

Hi,

I am a newbie on this list and am asking those that do get AIHA, what

kind of food, supplements, seasonings I should avoid, so that my body

won't swell and the cushinoid features won't be so severe. Presently I

am on 40 mg. of Prednisone rather than 80 mg (at my insistance).

Cheers,

Del Woodward,

Kimberley, B.C.

Canada

dx'92

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/12/2005 11:47:58 AM Eastern Standard Time,

delwoody@... writes:

to Chonette for the site that I needed, in regards as to what not and what to

Del - I'd be very interested in the results of the IVIG - In my AIHA, only

Prednisone and Rituxan were used - apparently they did not think IVIG was

needed, or whatever - I've always felt the next time TX is needed it should be

IVIG

- Thanks,

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/13/2005 10:30:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

thel.g@... writes:

, if I'm not mistaken, the problem with IVIG is that it only lasts a

month or two and then you have to get another. BUT, knowing that, it's

certainly better to do that than having your spleen removed or dying from

falling

hard into something.

Always a catch somewhere isn't there, Kurt

Subject: Re: AIHA

In a message dated 4/12/2005 11:47:58 AM Eastern Standard Time,

delwoody@... writes:

to Chonette for the site that I needed, in regards as to what not and what

to

Del - I'd be very interested in the results of the IVIG - In my AIHA, only

Prednisone and Rituxan were used - apparently they did not think IVIG was

needed, or whatever - I've always felt the next time TX is needed it should

be IVIG

- Thanks,

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Guest guest]

Automatic Laboratory Testing May Help Identify Patients With

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Laurie Barclay, MD;

July 8, 2005 — Automatic laboratory testing may be of benefit for

identifying patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA),

according to the results of a study published in the July issue of

the American Journal of Clinical Pathology.

" The clinical usefulness of automatic laboratory-initiated testing of

patients with recent-onset normocytic anemia to diagnose AIHA is

uncertain, " write Froom, MD, from Clalit Health Services in

Nesher, Israel, and colleagues. " Early treatment of patients with

autoimmune hemolytic anemia reduces symptoms and might even decrease

mortality. "

Patients with no history of anemia, hemoglobin values less than 10 g

per dL (< 100 g/L) and mean corpuscular volume of 80 µm3 (80 fL) or

more underwent reticulocyte count testing. If the uncorrected

reticulocyte count was 2% or more of the red blood cell counts

(>/= .02), a direct antiglobulin test (DAT) was performed.

Of 784,185 complete blood cell counts performed during 28 months,

3,841 (0.49%) revealed recent-onset normocytic anemia, including 424

(11.04%) with reticulocyte counts of 2% (0.02) or more. Of those with

elevated reticulocyte counts, DAT results were positive in 52 (12.3%).

Of 40 patients for whom patient information was available, 33 (83%)

had not been diagnosed as having AIHA by their physicians, 11 (28%)

were treated with steroids, six (15%) were hospitalized, and two

patients (5%) had to stop medications suspected of having caused the

hemolytic anemia.

The caveats are an uncertain cutoff for the degree of anemia needed

to initiate a reticulocyte count, difficulty extrapolating these

results to other settings, and clinical information available for

only 40 (77%) of 52 patients.

" Automatic laboratory testing for patients with recent-onset

normocytic anemia ensures recommended practices, probably saves

physician visits, and, for some patients, results in more timely

diagnosis and appropriate treatment, " the authors write. " Our

findings support the use of reflex laboratory-initiated testing in

patients with normocytic anemia. Further studies are warranted to

determine whether our findings can be extrapolated to other settings. "

Am J Clin Path. 2005;124:1-4

Reviewed by D. Vogin, MD

[Guest guest]

From recent postings (Marcia, Carol) it does seem that Rituxan may be beneficial for AIHA. We are not clear whether Prednisone is required as well, although Prednisone has been the standard AIHA Treatment.

Also, twosteprav (name?) says Rituxan is helping ITP, another autoimmune problem.

Lets everyone who has experience with this chime in.

Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.

[Guest guest]

Hi & All,

, you are correct in saying that prednisone is the standard treatment (tx) of choice for AIHA, the first line tx, as it is considered the most benign. Altho some people, like Carol for instance, may not tolerate it well at all. Generally, it does a good job of increasing the Hg, but that effect lasts (when the course of pred is completed) in a minority of people. I recall the statistic is 30-35% respond, but I can't remember if this is initial or lasting response, sorry. If one fails prednisone, the next step is usually either splenectomy or Rituxan. Or, as Terry Hamblin said, "if the AIHA is controllable with steroids alone, then no further tx is needed. If not, then it is necessary to treat the underlying disease". For some people, this would be an even more intensive tx.

As I understand it, Rituxan is the drug of choice for AIHA, whether in CLL or in non-cancer people with AIHA, who have "failed" steroids.

For myself, I'd decided long ago to try R monotherapy as a first line tx, as I believe in starting out slowly & saving the "big gun" txs for later on. My CLL has always been slow to progress, but I wouldn't call it indolent. Because I had a great, but not very long, response to last year's course of prednisone, I wanted to add a bit of steroid to the R & my dr went along with it, altho he hasn't used it before in that combination.

Regards,

Marcia in Ca, dx'd 2000, AIHA-2007 w pred, Rituxan-2008 for AIHA

[sPAM]Re: AIHA

From recent postings (Marcia, Carol) it does seem that Rituxan may be beneficial for AIHA. We are not clear whether Prednisone is required as well, although Prednisone has been the standard AIHA Treatment.

Also, twosteprav (name?) says Rituxan is helping ITP, another autoimmune problem.

Lets everyone who has experience with this chime in.

Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.