HU affects blood pressure?

[nightshadow]

I have been on HU since Jan this year and my blood pressure has been slowly decreasing (in my case, a good thing). Has anyone else seen a similar response when taking HU?

[mhos61]

Yes!

I’ve had good blood pressure all my life averaging 110/70, however leading up to my ET diagnosis I noticed my Systolic reading was increasing to the mid to high 120s. I presumed it was age related.

At diagnosis I was started on hydrea due to age. Sometime later, my Systolic reading returned to my former normal 110/115 and still remains at this level.

Even with ET, I had borderline high haematocrit (maybe masked PV), so quite thick blood. My theory is, the treatment positively reduced these counts making my blood less thick, hence my heart didn’t have to work as hard to push the blood/sludge around my body.

Had this discussion before with another MPN patient who also saw a reduction in his Systolic reading.

[nightshadow in reply to mhos61]

Same situation, 110/70 average all my life, started to creep up and thought it was age related. It is a pleasant surprise to see it dropping back down.

[Scrollernut]

Mine went up. Can’t seem to get it down even on meds. Runs 180s over 100. She just added a new one yesterday to help bring it down.

[nightshadow in reply to Scrollernut]

Oh, I am sorry to hear. I hope the new medication works well for you.

[lhammy66]

Mine has done the opposite and I am now on two drugs to reduce BP.

[nightshadow in reply to lhammy66]

Sorry to hear this. I hope your BP is under control.

[lhammy66]

Thank you - BP seems now to be relatively stable. I had my first venesection on Thursday to tackle worrying hematocrit levels and that has taken my BP to a much more normal level (I have always been at the upper end even before MPN) but I suspect it will work back up as the blood thickens again.

[nightshadow in reply to lhammy66]

Unfortunately it seems probable. At least we live in an era in which we know what it is and something can be done about it,

[lhammy66]

Yes indeed. The unpredictability is something we have to learn to live with. I guess to some extent that is life anyway. My bloods not settling is a worry but there are always people in worse situations - if nothing else, COVID has taught us that. It’s a case of trying to enjoy each day as it comes.