Hello mpn people,
I have ET. Started peg inf three weeks ago after 2.5 years on Anagrelide. Reduced ana from two to one a day Friday and am taking 45 mg inf a week. Just had blood test today and my platelets are fine but leukocytes have shot up to around 12.
Will peg inf eventually reduce the leukos? Anyone has experience/knowledge about this?
Thanks!
Anagrelide should only suppress platelets as I understand it. Leukocytes are the immune response to infections/pathogens It may be that your body is fighting off an infection. It does matter which leukocytes are elevated as each has a different immune function. Suggest you review this finding with your MPN care team.
Pegasys would be expected to reduce all three types of blood cells. In fact, monitoring for the various types of leukopenia is part of the protocol. Pegasys and Besremi both have this impact on my counts.
All the best moving forward.
Thanks for ypur reply! Anagrelide reduced my whites to mostly normal so I think it’s my dropping to half dose that’s making them higher. But great to her that Pegasys should reduce them as well! I’ll wait patiently 
Yes, but you may need to experiment increasing the dose to 65-70 or 90 mcg per week. You'll probably be able to get off the Anagrelide altogether.
Thank you, and yes my doctor may try that later but it’s still early days (4 injections so far).
it’s early days, if that’s only one test it could be a infection, it’s the trend that counts, a few weeks on Peg is nothing , it can take weeks,months, years for some to see change in counts. It should reduce whites but 11 is no issue.
Peg has definitely addressed my persistently high white counts. Since I have been on Peg they have been WNL after being high for years.
