Rising WBC Question
 

My 74 year old father has battled MDS for 1.5 years. Since summer 2015 he's been kept alive through weekly PLT and RBC transfusions. The WBC has been consistently low throughout this disease until January. His WBC is normally 2.5-3.5. This parameter has increased as follows:

January 4th = 5.75
January 11th = 7.25
January 18th = 12.50

Does this progression indicate transformation to AML? Could there be another medical explanation?

Thanks

Hi - Sorry about your father's situation - your question is best left to your father's he hematologist - and I don't think it can really be answered without a bone marrow biopsy. If it is transforming to AML it may be good to try some other treatment sooner - Has your father tried one of the hypomethylating agents - Vidaza or Dacogen?

Best wishes
Paul

He has been through both Vidaza and Dacogen. We have an appointment with MD Anderson next week. He will be evaluated for a non-myeloablasive SCT.

OK - Couldn't be at a better place -

Good luck to you both.

Best wishes

Paul