[imckinne]

I'm new to this forum...my 76 year old mom was treated with ATG the last week of May 2009. Had a subanachroid bleed and another bleed around her spinal cord (despite a platelet transfusion that morning, her count had dropped to 7000 while the ATG had sent her blood pressure through the roof). At the same time lost her visual processing ability, was essentially blind..but neurologist believes this was from the one day on Cyclosporin - she went toxic immediately. So, needless to say, she has had a bad outcome. 4 weeks out now and she's a few days into rehab but very weak. She continues to require 2 units of platelets about every 2 1/2 days, packed red cells about every 4-5 days. WBC was at .4 for 4 weeks but went to .5 3 days ago, .6 2 days ago, and .8 yesterday...seems like insignificant changes but the doc seems hopeful.

THe doc wants to put her on Megace and Oxandrin, saying that her albumin is very low and suggests she is malnourashed...that despite eating well, she is not processing the proteins and that these meds will support the bone marrow and muscle development and help her become stronger and to get more positive results from the ATG. BUT, th elist of side effects are frightening...most common are liver toxicity from one of them and blood clots from the other.

Is anyone familiar with these?