[Susan]

A while back I had an Epo shot and got a rash on my trunk that lasted about 10 days.It was very itchy. My 65 yr old hem said this was the first time he's ever seen this. Lucky me to be an oddball.

The scientific advisor at the drug company said I'm probably allergic to the mammal the drug was grown in, Chinese hamster. Now I'm wondering if it might be "just" a side effect rather than a true allergy. It's common for patients getting other meds such as ATG to get a rash and it's considered typical and 'normal." They just use Benadryl, etc.

I'll try to find out if becoming desensitized, slow low dose intro of the med is an option. Has anyone else gotten a rash from Epo? Was a solution found?

At least I'm tolerating Nuepogen very well. I was so happy to learn it's grown in e-coli cells and not Chinese hamsters.