Is anyone with ITP on warfarin and how does it affect you?

[Morgan]

[sailor]

If you have ITP, the last thing you want is either warfarin or asprin. Asprin has the effect of reducing the number of platelets in the blood and warfarin thins the clotting of the blood. With ITP the number of platelets in the blood are reduced by either the immune system or the reduction in platelet production in the bone marrow.

There is a controversial treatment for people who have undergone bypass surgery. In this case the platelets are treated with an agent to increase production and at the same time given asprin to reduce the number in the blood system. The intention is to give the grafts a better chance of healing.

IF you have been prescribed warfarin or asprin I would recommend you seek a second opinion from a haematologist who is a specialist in ITP a list of which is available on the ITP website under ITP Forum. They are located in centres around the country.

Hope this basic info is helpful and do give an update.

[Morgan]

Hi Sailor, thanks for that but my haemo found pre stroke antibodies in my blood so had no option but to give me asperin which has not affected the platelet count, bizarrely they have risen to 80 from 20, over 6 months. They say its not working so may try warfarin, I believe they consult with Bristol.

[angelarosemarie]

I went into AFib on March 10th of this year and was put on warfarin until 3 weeks after my successful cardio conversion on May 28th. I've had ITP for years. I started receiving NPlate in January 2013, and my platelets had not gone below 50,000 until I started on warfarin. I was receiving an NPlate shot every 4th week, but when my platelets went down to 45,000 while on warfarin, my hematologist has been checking me weekly. I received 2 shots in one month while on the warfarin which brought my platelets to 303,000. They always start to go down in the 3rd week after the shot. My cardiologist said that he really isn't sure if the warfarin had an effect on my platelets, but now that I am off the warfarin, I'm hoping that I can go back to getting my NPlate every 4th week. Good luck to you.

[Morgan in reply to angelarosemarie]

Thank you so much, I hope you stabilise soon. I shall find out next month if I have to go on it.

[Buchanan]

Yes, Morgan - I'm on warfarin now and ratixumab, and have had no ill effects that I know of. Wish you luck.

Buchanan