Quote:
Originally Posted by rkp
Is it normal to have such a quick response to the treatment in MDS? Is it possible that this is not MDS?
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Hi RP!
Great that your Mom had such a super response. I haven't seen data on response after a single injection of Aranesp. But that drug is much more effective in folks with very low natural EPO. So, if your mother's EPO was quite low, that might explain the quick response.
There is a condition called megaloblastic anemia that has megaloblastic erythropoesis as a key feature and is typically related to B12 and/or folate deficiency. Given that your mother didn't respond to the B12, it seems unlikely that was her problem. Did they give her folate as well?
MDS is a very heterogenous disease -- really a collection of a bunch of different bone marrow failure conditions caused by a bunch of different things. And those diseases can have very different natural histories. So, if your Mom does have MDS, it may be that she has a lower-risk version that will continue to respond well to treatment.
Take care!
Greg
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Greg, 59, dx MDS RCMD Int-1 03/10, 8+ & Dup1(q21q31). NIH Campath 11/2010. Non-responder. Tiny telomeres. TERT mutation. Danazol at NIH 12/11. TX independent 7/12. Pancreatitis 4/15. 15% blasts 4/16. DX RAEB-2. Beginning Vidaza to prep for MUD STC. Check out my blog at
www.greghankins.com