I start interferon journey yesterday after taking 4 months of hydroxyurea. My initial blood platelets was as high as ~950 in April, then gradually decreases to ~550 till yesterday when I switched to interferon. Although I don't have any severe side-effects on HU except I felt soar knee, I decided to change to interferon considering the possibility of converting to leukemia after long term use of HU, my age is 49. My doctor is a really nice and knowledge specialist, he respected my decision and prescribed interferon for me as I exchanged my thoughts on the consequence of taking HU and other possible treatments whenever I see him. As a standard protocol, he prescribed me 45mcg (0.25ml) for the first 2 weeks, then 90mcg for the next 2 weeks and do CBC every week to monitor the blood counts. CMP is also done before taking interferon as baseline to check the adverse of interferon if any. Hope my body has response to the interferon and wish every body here find suitable and comfortable treatment to fight MPN. By the way, my case is ET JAK+.
Interferon journey started with ET JAK+ at plate... - MPN Voice
Interferon journey started with ET JAK+ at platelets counts 550
I hope that your experience with PEG is a favorable as what I am experiencing. I would note that my platelets came down to 398 after 3 months on 45mcg PEG. They were running between 700s-900s.
All the best.
Hunter, thanks for your valuable suggestions in the past. It is very encouraging that you body responds to PEG well. Let's see how my body respond to PEG. So far so good, no any side effect that I was aware of.
Sam2022 - good luck. Our cases seem very similar (I am 52 with ET Jak2+) with platelets going from an average of about 950 (with one spike to 1,400) and coming down to mid 700's on HU (ramping up dosage form 500mg/day to 1,500mg daily) over the past 5 months. Decided with my specialist to switch to PEG starting in September as we weren't getting the results we wanted yet with HU (after 5 months and at a fairly high dosage) and I started experiencing some SEs as the dose increased. He said the data is inconclusive about possible link in transformation to leukemia after extended period on HU but as we now have options fully supported my move to PEG.
Hi Sam, I have been on HU for 24 years and no direct side effects, it has controlled my ET/PV very effectively. I have had some problems with the sun causing some basel cell carcinoma . I am now 76 still pretty active but is difficult to separate anno domni from the HU. all the best Town crier
How did your adjustment to PEG go? This post looks like it was 2 years ago. I'm thinking of trying to change from HU to PEG, and am interested how long the adjustment is, both with platelet counts and side effects.