Update on Judy's father

[Guest guest]

Thanks again to all who responded to my request for advice regarding

my father-in-law's recent liver problems [i.e. elevated alkaline

phosphatase and bilirubin following treatment with allopurinol].

Because he has shown some improvement over the last several days,

his doctors have agreed to take a very conservative approach. Later

this week they'll do another blood test to see if liver function

tests have improved [he will have been off of the allopurinol for

~12 days at that time]. If results show no improvement or worsening

of liver function tests, then they'll consider other approaches

[e.g. ultrasound and MRCP or ERCP]. Surprisingly they did not do a

complete blood count when he was admitted to the ER last Friday, so

we don't know whether he had eosinophilia, which can be a sign of

allopurinol hypersensitivity. The CT scan last Friday apparently

showed " no gallstones, although there was some gallbladder

distension " , and some " diverticulitis in the colon " [apparently not

uncommon in the elderly!]. All we know right now is that he is

visibly less " yellow " , and his appetite and taste has returned, his

sleep patterns have improved, and bowel movements have returned.

We'll keep our fingers crossed that improvement will continue

without any further medical interventions.

Best regards,

Dave

(father of (20); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03)