Unfortunately there's many causes of neutropenia. Bruce had 10 years of neutropenia...and that followed almost 2 years of antibiotics for a bone infection. We were relying on the Westergren Sed rate testing to monitor the infection -- Bruce's was way over 100 for quite a while. It was late in the game before he started growth factors -- they finally knocked back the bone infection for him but didn't do more than temporarily increase his counts. Subsequently, some hematologists told us that extended antibiotic therapy could permanently suppress the white blood cell line. Others have said it could have been the start of MDS manifesting itself. Point is, it is often very difficult to find a cause for these problems, and the doctors must resort to treating the symptoms. The good news is there are many more treatments now than there were 10 years ago and it sounds like your wife is getting excellent care.
We love people from all over the world here. You're right, a lot of Americans and Aussies post. Maybe it's just we outtalk everyone else.
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Catherine, wife of Bruce age 75; diagnosed 6/10/11 with macrocytic anemia, neutropenia and mild thrombocytopenia; BMB suggesting emerging MDS. Copper deficient. Currently receiving procrit and neuopogen injections weekly, B12 dermal cream and injections, Transfusions ~ 5 weeks.
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