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Essential Thrombocythemia: Looking for information and support
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: Nov 4 11:06am | Replies (597)Comment receiving replies
My husband was diagnosed w/ ET. It's been 4 years. His RBC and Hgb are low. So by October last year, his doctor added Anagrelide everyday and HU every 3rd day After taking Anagrelide for 2 months, then he developed shortness of breath. Then I took him to ER, and was diagnosed heart failure . His lungs was accumulated w/ fluids and his heart ejection fraction is low By Echocardiogram) I have read from online that one of Anagrelide side effects could cause heart failure. It has been reported . So he stopped taking Anagrelide. It happened to my husband after taking 2 months of Anagrelide . So I wonder if it's just coincidence
Replies to "My husband was diagnosed w/ ET. It's been 4 years. His RBC and Hgb are low...."
I’ve been taking Anagralide for a year or so after 30 years of HU. For high platelets. My bone marrow has stopped making red blood cells. Both Anagralide and HU tend to lower red cell counts but I need them to lower platelets. No change in heart problems as I’ve had Afib for years and take Furosemide for that. I’m 87 years old.
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I am sorry your husband has had heart trouble. I have a bad heart mitral valve, and asked my cardiologist to tell me whether anagrelide or hydroxy would work better for me due to heart issues.
He reviewed side effects and said hydroxy because anagrelide does cause some heart problems in some ET patients.
Many patients are fine on anagrelide, but oncologists probably should be more alert to those cardiac side effects. It seems to be pretty common.
Whether the anagrelide caused or aggravated your husband's problems is something his cardio and oncologist could discuss. If you can get them to. Specialists can have a lot of tunnel vision and are sometimes not inclined to go outside their bailiwick.