Thyroid dysfunction and neutropenia-linked?

[Keri41]

good afternoon all,

Just out here confused and feeling alone so thought I’d reach out. Feel like once you’re referred to a specialist your GP ceases to have an opinion!

saw private Endo few weeks ago who stopped Carbimazole due to neutropenia. If you look back at previous post you can see my results showed after 6 weeks of taking 20mg daily id actually gone hypothyroid so my understanding was/is I was likely hashi’s-altho he still wanted to reduce rather than stop my Carbimazole as thought otherwise 🤯 anyway we agreed to stop and retest after 6 weeks until then im in limbo land so juggling symptoms etc! My concern is from diagnosis my white cell count has been reduced and even after 2 1/2 weeks off Carbimazole it’s not gone up so im doubting that was the cause….my GP doesn’t know why and says I’m to wait until I see NHS endo end of month as they can deal with (helpful!) does anyone have any similar experience or know of correlation between these 2 blood tests. Im guessing it’s due to autoimmune nature of thyroid but not everyone with Hashi’s has neutropenia so I worry it’s something else ☹️. I’ll try and include photo of results.

Thanks as always

[McPammy]

I have Hashimotos and a very poor converter of T4 to T3. I also have the faulty gene DIO2.

Since adding T3 medication to my usual t4 levothyroxine medication. I noticed my white blood cells are nearly always abnormally low. Also on 2 occasions my neutrophil level was abnormally low. However, one occasion when neutrophil was abnormally low was when I was taking levothyroxine only. I looked at my T4 blood results for that same date and my T4 was over medicated abnormally high. So, it’s not just adding the T3 in its also the T4 being too high that can cause neutrophil to be abnormally low. I looked up on google what could cause this. It was clear that people who live with hyperthyroidism can have this happening. So, too much T4 or T3 can cause low white and neutrophil counts. Maybe this doesn’t happen to everyone but it certainly happens to me. I get my FBC done every 3 months alongside my thyroid bloods and other bloods too. My thyroid bloods are always in range but are higher than they have been prior due to adding the T3 but now my white blood cells are often abnormally low. I’d say 80% of the time. Only 3 occasions on my record has neutrophil been abnormally low. I do believe it’s thyroxine related. I also catch viruses easier than before and it takes longer to pass I’ve noticed. I put a post similar to yours some time ago but didn’t get much response. Maybe people don’t check their FBC’s much, I’m unsure. But I’ve definitely noticed a change since I started T3 looking at my patients access record, it correlates. Higher thyroxine can cause low white and neutrophil counts.

Have you checked your thyroid bloods recently ?

[radd]

Keri41,

Carbimazole is usually stopped with neutropenia because its harder to fight infections and can be life-threading, although I read there's argument that low levels of white blood cells (as opposed to ultra-low levels) should not always be a reason to stop.

Many people thyroid autoimmune issues suffer have low white blood counts. It used to be thought the immune system simply wore out after years of an internal rampage but now autoimmune neutropenia is often considered. This is when similar proteins that attack the thyroid gland or stimulate/block the TSH receptors, attack the neutrophils. This is why we try to reduce thyroid antibodies to calm the over reactive/sensitive immune system and reduce risk of other autoimmune conditions.

[klr31]

I have had Hashimoto's for over 20 years and, on recent private blood test results twice over two years, I've had low neutrophils. I wonder if they are connected with thyroid problems but I don't know for sure. I'd love to find out.

Karen

[Eton]

Keri I have a long history of low neutrophils too. My GP monitors my levels. I have been told this level is my 'normal'. I think there probably is a link with UAT but off course no Dr has ever put the jigsaw pieces together. I suspect I have been hypothyroid for many years prior to medication.

[Keri41 in reply to Eton]

It’s very interesting as I’ve looked back at all my previous FBC results and not been an issue apart from once or twice where it’s been repeated a few weeks later and is back within range. Since thyroid issues EVERY time it’s checked it’s low and last week neutrophils were lowest they’ve been. Endo just says to monitor and they only worry when it drops to 1 as neutropenic sepsis. They can’t give an answer even that its definitely linked to thyroid just a “likely” answer. I guess that’s enough-just on days where I’m not feeling great I get paranoid it’s due to something else that’s being missed.

[Eton in reply to Keri41]

Like you I used to worry that it was something sinister but it's been going on for many years now and I'm still here! So try not to worry too much.