Rheumatoid arthritis steroid injections impact... - CLL Support

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Rheumatoid arthritis steroid injections impact on cll

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I have recently had steroid injections for my back pain and was told it impacts my blood counts, anyone familiar with this? How long does the impact last?

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8 Replies
Cllcanada profile image
CllcanadaTop Poster CURE Hero

What steroid... ?

Prednisone for example is a synthetic corticosteroid drug that is particularly effective as an immunosuppressant drug. It is used to treat certain inflammatory diseases, some autoimmune diseases, and some types of cancer.

I was on it for 12 months to treat Richter's transformation in CLL... it has a raft of side effects... I was also on Dexamethasone another steriod...to prevent inflamation and chemo induced peripheral neuropathy...

Had prednisone in my eye for shingles as well...

It also suppresses the production of B cells among other blood components...

Tapering off the drugs was a month long process...

More on this...

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cor...

~chris

in reply toCllcanada

Depomedrol was injected 40 mg. I get these a couple times a year.

Cllcanada profile image
CllcanadaTop Poster CURE Hero in reply to

Actually that is Methylprednisolone injectable rather than infusion...

Methylprednisolone is used in combination with Rituxan, another RA treatment,...for high risk refractory CLL...

The treatment is R-HDMP... high dose methylprednisolone... it is still used.

~chris

olyocl profile image
olyocl in reply toCllcanada

At the moment the treatment I am receiving is 1 day Rituximab and 1,500 Methylprednisolone for 5 days by infusion. I feel exhausted because being on such a high dose I have problems sleeping at night.

So does it increase or lower your lymphosite count, and for how long would it impact it from a 40 mg injection. I also take Leflunomide for my RA

Cllcanada profile image
CllcanadaTop Poster CURE Hero in reply to

Steroids lower the lymphocyte count, but 40mg is quite a small dose... your doctor might know the degree it effects blood counts...

Newdawn profile image
NewdawnAdministrator

I'd not heard of a connection between steroid injections and lymphocyte levels but I do know from experience that steroids in any form can increase blood glucose levels.

I'm having another steroid injection into my shoulder in just over a week so hope there is no impact on ALC.

Newdawn

Jm954 profile image
Jm954Administrator

The prednisolone will make interpreting your lymphocyte counts difficult as not sure if level is due to illness, treatment or prednisolone.

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