Diagnosed with RAEB – Could anyone explain blood counts please!

[jen06]

My dad who is 66 has recently been diagnosed with RAEB and has just undergone his first treatment of Vidaza (which went quite smoothly). Since then he has had blood tests and been advised to keep a record of them. However he does not really understand what they mean. His counts were: White Cell 3.8, Haemoglobin 11.0, Platelet 38, Automatic Neutrophil Count 2.60 and Red Cell 4.56. What he really wants to know is what should be ‘normal for him’ and at what point does he need to start to worry. We realise that it is early in the treatment for him and that things will probably go downhill but would appreciate any advice on this.
thanks
Jenny

[Russ]

Jen, Hang in there and go back over some of the old posts – there’s a lot of information and support. On your Dad’s CBC the WBC(white cell)
normal range is 4.00-11.00; HGB (Hemaglobin) is 13.0-17.3; RBC (red cells) 3.90-5.90; PLT (platelets) 130-470. Except for the low platelets your Dad’a numbers are pretty good.
Has he had a bone marrow biopsy (BMB)? – should have one to assess his condition. Prayers and best wishes.

[jen06]

Hi Russ,
Many thanks for your quick reply – this really helps. Yes, my dad has had a couple of biopsy’s, first when he was diagnosed and then about a month ago. It was actully the low platelet count that they found initially (I think it was as low as 12 at the time). We live in the UK so the treatment is a bit different over here. Vidaza is not yet approved apart from being used in a clinical trial at Kings College in London, which is the programme he is on. We are hoping it will be approved shortly. I will look back on the posts and try and glean some more info! Thanks again for your help, and wishing you good luck in the future also.

[maueenh]

Jen, Ask the doctors for a print out of his blood counts. They usually will have the “normal” ranges along side. My dad was diagnosed in May and has been on Vidaza since and is responding well. His platelet count was around 60 when he was first diagnosed and is now 160 after 4 rounds of Vidaza. Every case is different and what works for one patient does not necessarily work for another but there is much more available today than just a couple of years ago. This forum has a wealth of information and great support.

Maureen

[Neil]

Hi Jenny,
Much depends upon how he feels and if he has any symptoms. Many of us do well even though our counts are low.
Some with low RBC/HGb are helped with Procrit or Aranesp. The both trigger the marrow to stimulate red cell growth. The higher the red cells the lower the fatigue level. More oxygen getting to the tissues.
His white count looks pretty good. Whites fight infection, virus, fungus etc.
Platelets are more difficult to handle. Some can be symptom free with low levels while others have bruising, bleeding petechiae at higher levels
(50,000-75,000). One can produce huge numbers of abnormal platelets that the body identifies, kills and flushes out thru the spleen in a normal process. At the same time there can be a group of normal megakaryocytes producing normal platelets and even though the numbers are low, some of us get by since the normal plts are enough to get by if the patient is careful with power tools, does not fall and most of all is a very careful driver.
His blast count is very important and the docs are probably working a options to keep them from increasing and better yet lowering them. They will be doing all possible to keep blasts from entering the peripheral blood.
Be aware that Vidaza may cause his counts to decrease before they increase. Most patients experience this. If it hapens his docs will advise the options on how they can support his counts till the come back up.

[chuckk333]

Neil–
Your summary says severe thrombocytopena. How low are they?

I still have no symptoms, but cytogenetics show Del long arm of 20, monoosomy t, and trisomy 8

The counts are relatively stable with platelets at 65 to 70. Neutrophils are about 200+/-100. You had indicated that some cells are difficult to count accurately when they get low. Which ones are the tough ones to measure?

Going to City of Hope for another opinion on Mon. on whether to start treatment with Vidaza

[Author]

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