High Gamma GT

[SpendyWendy]

hi everyone

I am in Hydroxy 500mg 6 days a week since May with aspirin daily following my diagnosis of ET due to Jak2 positive. My platelets are 437. End of July - My LIver function tests were abnormal & given I was having severe leg cramps my consultant advised stopping the statins my GP had put me on. My repeat LFTs were much improved a month following stopping my statins & I felt generally much better off them. However it was noted My gamma GT levels were high (200 ) these were repeated yesterday & my gamma GT has sky rocketed to 523!! Could this be hydroxy toxicity? Obviously I will liaise with my medical team next week but I wonder whether anyone else had had this happen to them to reassure me- thank you

[Mirror368]

i also have ET JAK2. I am 80 and have taken Hydroxyurea at different timeframes. My biggest side effect was headaches. I was recently taking 500 mg 3x weekly. My hematologist asked me to start taking it 4x a week to attempt to get my current 555 platelets down to 400.

Are you drinking the recommended 64 ounces of fluids to help rid your body of the toxic effect of the Hydroxyurea?

Best wishes, Eileen

[SpendyWendy in reply to Mirror368]

Thank you Eileen - I will up my fluid intake a bit more

[hunter5582]

You are correct to think that you should contact your MPN care team promptly to report the elevation in GGT. While it is correct that HU can cause liver problems, the statins can do the same. Perhaps taking statins and HU at the same time was just too much for your liver. Your MPN care team should be able to help you sort this out.

Please let us know what you learn and how you get on.

[SpendyWendy in reply to hunter5582]

Thank you I intend to leave a message for my specialist nurse tomorrow. My Consultant does a clinic on Tuesday so I am going to stop the hydroxy until I speak to her.

[SpendyWendy in reply to SpendyWendy]

I contacted my medical team & I was advised to hold off my hydroxy until my next consultation on 17 Sep following repeat bloods. They have booked me a liver ultrasound for Saturday so really pleased with the prompt response.

[saltmarsh]

Hi Wendy. Sorry about the issues. My wife was on statins which caused cramping and has been switched to repatha, delivered by an injection. She's doing well but doesn't have your blood issue - I do.

I'm 77 and have been on hu for 3 years. I'll just underline the need for hydration that was already pointed out.

Good luck going forward.

[SpendyWendy in reply to saltmarsh]

Thank you for your response - I have upped my fluids & will kept it up