RBC's low--common with CLL?

[Vlaminck]

Hey, folks, at my last appt, my blood platelets had dropped to 130 (from 160 or above) and my RBCs (red blood cells) for the first time were low (4.09 on a scale 4.2-5.2). I know that dropping platelets can be a sign of advancing CLL, but do RBCs drop also?

Would love to hear others' understanding about RBCs and progression.

Thanks,

Debbie

[cajunjeff]

Hello Vlaminck, I am not an expert. But from what I have, read, over time with cll we can see our platelets fall, hemoglobin fall, red blood cells fall and lymphocytes grow.

I think one theory with falling red blood cells and falling platelets, it could me a result of cancerous lymphocytes proliferating in our marrow, other cells like platelets and red blood cells get crowded out. My RBC, hemoglobin and platelets all fell as I approached treatment. Good luck.

[Vlaminck in reply to cajunjeff]

Thanks, cajunjeff

[SeymourB]

I believe it can happen due to autoimmunity or CLL crowding the marrow. If the former, at some point they can stave off CLL treatment by with transfusions, steroids, or drugs to boost the cell types. If the lattee, at some point, treatment is the best thing.

The critical values have been set buly guidelines, like the iwCLL Guidelines.

ashpublications.org/blood/a...

=seymour=