Single agent Fludarabine

[Guest guest]

CLL Topics has a very interesting article on the above subject. The upshot is that use of single agent Fludarabine can lead to AIHA (autoimmune hemolytic anemia).

As little as about 6-7 years ago, when widespread use of Rituxan was just beginning, Fludarabine alone was the drug of choice.

After discussing it with my doctors at the time, we chose to introduce some Rituxan to my treatment in 1999-2000.

(Cytoxan, which is discussed by CLL Topics, was not yet in widespread use.)

Since 2004 I have had a sort of AIHA. We're not quite sure, tests come out negative, but borderline high bilirubin, borderline high retic counts, and borderline low haptoglobin counts have indicated for years that something may be chewing on my red cells.

(Some of you may recall that I had a 1-1/2 year struggle with a red cell eating blood parasite (delivered by the lyme fever tick), but that has finally concluded. Yet my numbers are suspiciously borderline AIHA numbers.)

So, who knows?

We learn that what may be the gold standard one year is bad for you a few years later!!!

If this subject interests you, look at the site below.

http://clltopics.org/Chemo/SingleAgentFludarabine.htm

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