has anyone ever heard of immune system attacking transfusions

[Kathy7964]

My Dad has been in the hospital since Aug. 15, finished his first round of Dacogen and got sweets syndrome. They are trying everything to boost wbc’s. Did a BMB 9/14 and the doctor told us there is nothing in his bone marrow..no blasts but nothing else either. Yesterday they gave him Cyclosporine they use for people who undergo a transplant to lower his immune system so it will not attack the blood he is receiving. They are having platelets sent in from other states. Plt’s where a 3 and up to 20 today after special plt’s but wbc keep dropping. On neupogen for over 2 weeks now.

Now they think he has another type of infection possibly in his blood. I can’t bear to see him suffering like this and I am starting to give up hope.

If anyone has experienced this where the body is attacking his blood could you please share any info you have? Or if it took this long to get his counts up?

Thanks,
Kathy

[Neil]

Hi Kathy,
From your description it appears he has hypocellular marrow.
Did the docs discuss the possibility of using ATG or perhaps ALG? ALG is less toxic. Both are used on Aplastic Anemia pts who have hypocellular marrow. His age and the infection certainly complicate matters, but ALG might help. A very tough decision and one that would need the input of docs familiar with ATG/ALG.

[Russ]

Kathy, Don’t have any answers but want to offer my prayers and best wishes for you and your Dad.

[KWJ]

Hang in there Kathy…Have the finally gotten the sweets under control? And I know you were considering a 2nd opinion at the Mayo clinic, can that still be done or is it too far for him to travel. It had sounded before like you were having some doubts about his docs, I would get another opinion. Maybe someone here knows a good MDS doc from Las Vegas.

[Author]

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