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[mdb1986]

Hi All:

Sorry to bother all of you, but am hoping you can provide some guidance. I got autoimmune hepatitis about 6 years ago, at 20 years old. I am in stage 3 cirrhosis. Has been stable. I recently came off my medications (azathioprine). While on the medication, my blood counts were normal. Now off the medication, my blood counts are very low, which is odd. I have a lot of fatigue and am bleeding pretty easily. I have petechiae all over my body. My platelets are 108, WBC 2.3, RBC 3.6. My only thought is there is something wrong with my bone marrow - which sort of makes sense given that azathioprine completely screws with your bone marrow and has all sorts of warnings about it causing leukemia and other blood disorders.

How would I get diagnosed or find out what this is? Are my symptoms in line with AA? Any help is immensely appreciated. Thanks!

[Chirley]

Hi, i Googled cirrhosis and CBC and i found the quotes below.

Reduced white blood cells or platelets: This may indicate portal hypertension, a complication of cirrhosis in which pressures are increased in the portal vein.


Platelet count: Number of platelets in your blood (may be altered in cirrhosis).

Perhaps coming off the medication has caused your liver to alter your blood results. I suggest you ask your hepatologist if the blood results are liver related.

Regards

Chirley

[mdb1986]

Thanks so much. Liver counts were taken on the same test and came back normal. I see what you're saying, but I've had cirrhosis for years and never had blood counts even close to these.

It's odd, because the medication I WAS on is supposed to cause what's happening now that I'm off it.

My only thought is something immune related that the medication was suppressing is now occurring in my bone marrow.

I'd even say I just had a really bad infection, but that doesn't make sense with the low platelets.

Could be completely wrong. What tests are done to test bone marrow? Is taking a sample of your marrow pretty much the only one?

Thanks!

[NLJabbari]

You need a referral to be seen by a Hematologist. They will probably take a peripheral blood test and most likely a bone marrow aspiration to check what your marrow looks like. To my understanding, hepatitis can be the cause of Aplastic Anemia. From the counts you mention, I would guess you might be considered moderate AA. Of course this is only my guess... Please make an appointment with a Hematologist as these procedures can take a bit to schedule and get results.

BTW, I'm just wondering when were your last counts taken? It seems to me that if your platelets are at 108K, you really shouldn't be bleeding easily or be experiencing too much petechiae. You should check this out soon as maybe your counts are dropping...

Keep us posted and take care

[mdb1986]

Thanks. I've had the petechiae for years, slowly increasing. It seems to be a side-effect of the azathioprine. The bleeding isn't terrible, but I can tell it takes a lot longer for a cut to quit bleeding than it used to - and things are slow to heal.

I just got the results taken 2 days ago.

[NLJabbari]

Glad to hear the bleeding isn't random bleeding like from the gums or nose bleeds. But again, you really do have to go see a Hematologist so that you will know where you stand. Also, there might be newer and better meds for your hepatitis/cirrhosis. I've heard of others with hepatitis that are doing quite well bc of the drug combinations they were given.

I hope you find answers and don't ever feel like you're bothering anyone! It's your health and you have to keep looking for answers so that your liver might regenerate. Do you take milk thistle or any other supplements/herbs for your liver? I found a web page "The Liver Doctor" Sandra Cabot. There are pretty good articles re: liver health on that sight. www.liverdoctor.com You might want to take a look.

Take care

[Marlene]

You also need vitamin K in order for blood to clot properly. With your platelets at 108, I'm surprised you have that much petechiae.

[Chirley]

Liver failure in itself can cause a coagulopathy which can result in petechia. It is not necessarily due to low platelets but is caused by a decrease in other blood clotting proteins.

I'm surprised to hear that you have normal liver enzymes with cirrhosis. I'm really pleased that you have done so well with your treatment. It makes sense that if you have an autoimmune liver problem that you can develop other autoimmune problems as well.

I hope you get some answers soon.

Regards

Chirley

[mdb1986]

Thank-you so much everyone for your answers and support. I am working on getting some more tests run and hopefully figure out what's going on.

[BrianFlaigmore]

I had an acute attack of autoimmune hepatitis before (or when) I became aplastic. I know this doesn't mean it's the case for you, but I know that it is fairly well documented.

[evansmom]

I second Brian's comments, I've heard and read of at least a handful of AA cases that occured after autoimmune hepatitis. The Imuran you were on likely kept the autoimuune attack on your bone marrow (that no one could have been aware of) in check. Is restarting the Imuran an option?