Hydroxycarbamide

[YBSx]

Hello

This may seem a strange question but I am struggling to understand…… if Hydroxycarbamide reduces the amount of blood cells, how does a routine blood test show any issues.

I have recently started with chronic stomach pains the doc took a blood sample and said my blood count is fine…. If Hydroxycarbamide reduced cells how would they know.

This is really baffling me. Can anyone make sense of this for me.

[JediReject]

It depends what was fine because there are a number of things a blood test can detect over and above those affected by HU. I get my results sent on an App and there's quite a list for liver and kidney function, calcium, protein, sodium, potassium. So it depends what Doc was looking for or ruling out. If your pains persist I would think maybe an ultrasound might be an option. Sometimes diagnosing these type of pains can be tricky. I had pain and an ultrasound showed Gall stones. Whereas my wife has Irritable Bowel Syndrome which took years to diagnose and still gets random pain in her left side which various tests haven't pinned down.

Good Luck with it.

Regards -Chris

[YBSx in reply to JediReject]

thanks for sharing your sharing your knowledge

[RedCardRob]

You can have multiple blood tests done without targeting specific things. Normally a process of elimination. So it took my doc (thankfully, because he was curious and wanted to explore possibilities) 2-3 tests before I got referred to heamotology. The number of phials the heamotology nurse got out of the drawer 😳

[YBSx in reply to RedCardRob]

thank you

[hunter5582]

Hydroxycarbamide (AKA - hydroxyurea - HU) is an antimetabolite (cytotoxin) that works by altering DNA activity in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and other cells in your body. Since it is reducing DNA activity in DNA-active cells, it has an antiproliferative impact. HU is reducing the production of all three lines of blood cells, platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells. When a complete blood count is done, the doctor can assess whether your counts fall within the desired parameters. This does not necessarily mean that all of the counts are normal, just that they are acceptable. Since you are taking HU, it would be expected that you would show signs of macrocytosis, which is normal with HU.

While HU can have benefits in terms of cytoreduction, there can often be adverse effects. GI adverse effects are associated with HU and considered to be a common adverse effect. This is something that you need to consult with a MPN specialist about. Most doctors are not familiar with MPNs nor the agents used to treat them. Not everyone can tolerate nor benefit from HU, myself included. I have done much better on the interferons. Pegasys is the other first-line treatment option for ET. Many find it to be more suitable; however, we are all different in how we respond to the medications.

Here is a bit of information about treatment options.

nccn.org/patients/guideline...

mpnjournal.org/how-i-treat-...

Here is some information about your CBC and what it means. It is helpful to know the basics.

youtube.com/watch?v=Xj_yE1p...(Not working as expected?)

All the best.

[YBSx in reply to hunter5582]

thank you

[Frances1903]

Despite taking HU medication, your platelets can still go above normal levels. This can happen especially if we get an infection /virus and the body is put under stress. The blood test can then reveal the level of platelets and the dosage and timing of your next blood test planned accordingly. If there are concerns, the nurse can also contact the doctor on your behalf too.

[Janis12]

Hi, I have wondered the same thing. It worries me that our treatment could be masking other issues.

[souplover]

Hi, I've been on Hydrea since 2019. It's hard to definitely know what causes what. But... I have developed a lactose intolerance and other stomach issues. I also have developed a bloated belly though overall I am slim.

As Hunter says, hematologists don't deal with these medications or this illness that much. My experience has been that the hematologist has been skeptical that the medication is causing the problems.