Slowly Declining Blood Counts???

[David M]

Hello,

I am just curious... is there anyone out there (or do you know of anyone) with pancytopenia / AA whose blood counts have slowly declined over a period of years?

My counts have been slowly declining for at least the last 10 years (noticed it in 2000). I still am not at treatment-required levels, but I seem to be slowly headed that way.

I guess I am just curious as to how odd this is... I have met at least one other person who has had AA it this way, so I know it happens.

Thanks for all the good posts and info out there! it has been very helpful to me.

David M

[leeslay]

I was diagnosed in March 2009, did the rabbit ATG in April and my red blood counts have never gone up on their own. I am now going through the desensitization process to try the horse ATG so hopefully this will work!!!!

How much are your counts going down? You haven't had any transfusions yet?

[David M]

Although all 3 bloodlines (reds, whites, and platelets) have been declining, the decline has been most noticeable with the platelets. When I first started getting my blood checked (about 10 years ago), my platelets were around 130K to 150K. Gradually they have declined over the years -- about a month ago they were measured at 40K. The platelet drop has been more or less linear and predictable. Last time, neutrophil counts were down to ~1.3. Hemaglobin has been measured as low as ~9.5, but last time it was 10.5 or so.

I have had 3 bone marrow biopsy & aspirations through the years... The first one about 10 years ago showed me as hypocellular with ~25% cellularity ("normal" should have been ~64%). I had another one about 3 years ago, and then one just a few months ago. The latest showed me as still being hypocellular with ~20% or less active cells ("normal" should have been ~55% at this point, I think).

Up to this point, I have been very blessed -- I have not had any treatments or transfusions of any kind. I also have not had abnormal bleeding or bruising. I have noticed some extra fatigue -- but it is hard to know exactly what is going on with that (i.e. who doesn't feel tired?).

I hope your ATG works out for you this time!

David M

[Lisa V]

David, what you describe doesn't sound that unusual for MAA, which seems to typically be slower moving than SAA. I know we've heard from others with a similar scenario. You might try posting on Aplastic Central too, or do a forum search on both sites for MAA.

Hope this helps,

[Deanna16]

what/where is aplastic central? :o)

[Neil Cuadra]

what/where is aplastic central? :o)
Aplastic Anemia Central (http://aplasticcentral.com/) (one of the "Patient Resources and Support Groups" listed on our Medical Resources page) is a website for AA patients run by Bruce Lande. It has its own forums (http://aplasticcentral.com/forumtest/toast.asp?sub=show&action=topics&fid=2).

[Deanna16]

Thank you!!