Red cell therapy: How long does the transfusion take and how often?

Hi @linepa2002 You’ve been in a watch and wait period for your LGL for quite a while. Sometimes these conditions change over time and then the situation gets reevaluated. LGL cells can affect red blood cell production. You’re seeing a decrease in your hemoglobin and when it dips too low most people start feeling fatigued, maybe have shortness of breath because of the lack of oxygen being carried by the cells throughout the body.

Having a blood transfusion of red blood cells (RBC) will recharge the system by replenishing the red blood supply. RBCs live about 120 days in the blood stream, but are constantly regenerated daily in the bone marrow. Since your body may not be producing red blood cells at a consistent rate, eventually this dwindling supply will need to be boosted again by another transfusion.
Chemo may help slow the production of the LGL cells so that they’re not competing with the RBC. That’s a discussion to have with your oncologist.

To answer your question about the blood transfusion (red cell therapy)…
A transfusion can take between about 1 to 3 hours. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes to cross-type and match your blood product, receiving it from the blood bank, etc.
The infusion is easy. You’ll have a small IV line in your hand or arm, much like when you have a blood draw. It’s pretty painless.
When the bag of cells arrive, it will be hung off the IV cart with a little clear plastic line attached to your IV lumen and run through that line into your blood stream. This may take a while depending on the amount you’ll receive.

If this is in an infusion center in a hosptial, you’ll be in a comfy reclining chair where you can read, watch TV, bring a tablet to watch movies. You’ll be able to get up and walk around or use the bathroom.
The frequency of having these done will depend on your subsequent blood tests. When your doctor sees the hemoglobin level decline to a certain level they will repeat.

What type of chemo did your doctor suggest?

I think he is suggesting immune whatever, my immune system was just checked with my blood work and all three were in normal area. I am just getting scared of side effects, seems I have problems with everything. I just feel this is not needed as I am 83 years old I do my own cleaning, cooking, laundry, grocery shop and just last week was at the mall for 2 hours shopping, went for dinner and stopped for a few groceries before heading home. my legs ached but that went away after i sat for awhile.

You’re very healthy, active and are concerned about being derailed by side effects of the treatment. Especially if you’re prone to having reactions to meds. There’s something to be said for quality of life so I completely understand your thought process on this.

You mentioned your doctor suggested trying an immunosuppressant. This is not the same as chemotherapy.
From my experience with having both, chemotherapy for AML and 4 immunosuppressant infusions for an issue related to a bone marrow transplant, I had no side effects at all with the immunosuppressant. The exception was with the initial infusion, which can be quite common.

It might be time for a heart to heart with your doctor to weigh risk/benefits of taking the immunosuppressant to help potentially slow the progression of the LGL cells.

In the mean time, the transfusions may keep your energy level up.
Anyway, I hope I answered your questions about ‘red cell therapy’ in my previous reply.
Are you all set for the holidays?

I saw my Hemo, Oncologist, today, before it was just a phone conversation. What he wants is for me to have 4 weeks, once a week of antibody infusion. He said my immune system is breaking down my red cells. The 3 immune system tests were in normal count area. Things that were discussed today were acquired hemolytic anemia, B12 deficiency and LGM. he is going to give me time to see if my lab values are going down, labs every 6 weeks. Thank you so much for answering my posts, it makes you feel good to know people care. I am ready for Christmas and am wishing you and yours a most joyous holiday season. Love, Linda