What treatments are available for aplastic anemia?

Welcome to Connect @alpinegirl! Well first, I have to comment that your @name is intriguing and I’m betting there’s a story behind that! Would you like to share a little more about being an alpine girl? I picture someone immersed in the beauty of nature in the high country! ☺️

Goodness, having a hemoglobin of 6 doesn’t give you much oxygen circulating in your body! You must feel pretty fatigued and maybe short of breath? Blood transfusions are great for giving you a well-needed boost of red blood cells but long term that can cause some issues as well. The key would be getting to the root of your loss of red blood cells so there can be a correction. There can be several causes for anemia so it’s important to know what’s behind the discrepancy.

What are your other blood results? Do you have ‘normal’ readings for your white blood cells and platelets? What types of tests have you had run to determine your anemia?

new to having aplastic anaemia. bad headaches in am. anemia started after having rectal surgery. what kind of treatment are you having?

Hi @alpinegirl, I hope you saw the helpful post from @loribmt. You might also be interested in this related discussion:
- Anyone have bone marrow transplant for aplastic anemia?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/iam-diagnosed-with-aplastic-cancer/
What treatments has your hematologist suggested?

New to this list. My wife has a very low platelet count which was first confirmed when she was taken to emergency room of local hospital where it was discovered to be at 4,000 – we knew she had a dire medical issue before that point because of various symptoms she was having. After spending 7 consecutive weeks in the hospital, she was released to continue protocol from home. The working diagnosis: aplastic anemia. Two bone marrow taps showed no cancer but her immune system is compromised, her body attacking her own platelets. She takes 3 Cyclosporine and 1 Alvaiz tablet daily. During her stay at the hospital, treatment resulted in two instances where platelets went to around 50,000, but not since then. About once a week she receives an infusion of platelets that brings her count up to slightly above 20,000, and has blood draw twice weekly. Haven’t been able to get close to those two instances during her hospitalization. Result of all this is that a very active gardener in her low 80s can’t do much of that anymore, now usually about an hour or two outdoors of minimal energy work. Coincidentally, she received platelets yesterday afternoon. Earlier in the day she had low energy and walking to the clinic from the car, her legs felt sluggish as she walked. After receiving platelets several hours later and walking back to the car, her step and feeling about walking had significantly improved. We will find out on Friday her platelet level; suspect it will be less than 30,000.

@booker, welcome. I moved your post about aplastic anemia to the Blood Cancers & Disorders support group in this existing discussion:
- What treatments are available for aplastic anemia? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/need-info-on-treatment-for-aplastic-anemia/

I did this so you can connect easily with others like @alpinegirl @aeft @rockitman @yanis @leilab1 and others who have experience with aplastic anemia.

You might also find encouragement in this Mayo story:
- Bone Marrow Transplant Is Answer for Mom of Seven Battling Aplastic Anemia
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/hematology/newsfeed-post/bone-marrow-transplant-is-answer-for-mom-of-seven-battling-aplastic-anemia-1/
It sounds like you and your wife have had a scary couple of months with many doctors, hospitals, tests, transfusions... I'm glad to hear that getting platelets gives her some relief. I'll be interested to hear what you learn at tomorrow's appointment.

How are YOU doing through all this?

I have had aplastic anemia for over two years now.
I experienced the same symptoms as other people have described. Two bone marrow aspirations, numerous blood tests revealed no cancer but none of the doctors locally or at Mayo could diagnose my problems. I got so weak from lack of hemoglobin I could hardly walk or breath.
My family pretty much figured this was the end.
I sent my two bone marrow biopsy results and ten blood tests to Moffitt cancer ctr in Tampa Fl. Within a week I was contacted and told to come to Moffitt. They new from my existing tests and biopsies I had Aplastic Anemia. They gave me a week long treatment in patient and put me on Cyclosporin and promacta and a few other meds. Within 6 weeks my blood levels all rose and my platelets went from 7k to over 260k.
I have been weened off promacta and gone from 400mg of Cyclosporin to 50mg. My blood tests are stable just teetering on normal, my platelets fell to 120k, but my hemoglobin is stable at 13.4.
I am 77 and feel great now. I'm too old for the bone marrow transplant so hopefully I can remain stable and not decline to the point of blood transfusion again.
Moffitt in Tampa are experts with Aplastic Anemia.
I wish you all the best, the treatment I got has a 75-80% chance of success. No guarantees if you will be treatable but it's definitely worth checking Moffitt cancer ctr in Tampa Fl.

Thanks moderator for your suggestions. I am okay. While my wife was in the hospital, I revived my dormant cooking skills and kept busy with my small business which I continue to enjoy. Now, with my wife back home, we share where possible what needs doing.

Good to hear that Moffitt Cancer Center was of great help in your medical condition. Thanks for your good wishes. We will consider that option.

The treatment is called ATGAM for Aplastic Anemia .
Your Dr can explain how it works and what the treatment entails. If they don't know the proper meds check out another Dr.
Best of luck

I just found this group so my comment is late. My 82 year-old wife has had severe aplastic anemia for a year. She was treated with ATGAM, Promacta, cyclosporine, at MDAnderson in Houston. She is not eligible for stemcell transplant. She slowly improved then declined and doctors said the treatment has failed. She goes in 3 days a week for bloodwork and gets platelets and blood once or twice a week. We are looking at a different followup treatment using campath which requires ten days of infusion in hospital and will leave her very weak. It has around 30% success rate. This has been a very difficult experience.