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Old Thu Apr 16, 2009, 05:58 AM
Birgitta-A Birgitta-A is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 1,918
Ferritin

Hi Chris,
You know now when I have MDS I am thankful for all help from my hospital - due to the supportive treatment I am asymptomatic 3 years after dx.

Yes the liver tests are liver function tests. You know the liver has a very good reserve capacity – you will manage well with 1/3 of the liver left. The problem with iron overload is that when the liver doesn’t manage to handle the iron the iron will cause damage in other organs for example the heart.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/liv...N=why-its-done

I think it is better to try EPO than transfusions – have you asked about your relative’s Serum-EPO initially? If it was more than 500 the EPO treatment probably won’t have any effect.

Do you know your relative’s platelet count – if it is low Aspirin can be a problem because it decreases platelets?

EPO appears to increase the risk of thrombotic events and mortality in patients at risk:
http://www.drugs.com/ppa/epoetin-alf...ietin-epo.html

Yes, it is really very complicated to coordinate symptoms, treatment and adverse effects. In any case you don't have to worry about iron overload already - hopefully your relative can be treated with EPO with good effect!
Kind regards
Birgitta-A
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