Guest guest Posted June 14, 2001 Report Share Posted June 14, 2001 ************ Definition (Medline) A disorder characterized by rheumatoid arthritis, an enlarged spleen, a decreased white blood cell count, and recurrent infection. The cause of Felty's syndrome is unknown. It is a variant of rheumatoid arthritis and is common in people who have had rheumatoid arthritis for a long time. People with this syndrome suffer from an increased incidence of infection associated with the low white blood cell count. ************* If you go to Mexico for treatment, you'll find that rheumatiod arthritis is caused by a pathogen for which a vaccine can be custom-made for you from your (infected) synovial fluid. Ozone therapy would be your best bet as the major component of a program. It increases white cell count, and also directly kills the recurrent infection. Immunocal in the US (HMS-90 in Canada) will dramatically increase immune system response, and will increase cellular glutathione levels due to its being a perfect cysteine donor. Glutathione, your cellular antioxidant, will increase longevity of the cells and help them repel all boarders. If you took only one supplement it should be Immunocal. Other whey protein isolates will not increase glutathione levels. You have to have this particular, patented isolate. ciao Duncan --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.252 / Virus Database: 125 - Release Date: 5/9/01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 Kathe and Dennis, Thanks for replying to my post. I am very thankful for my doctor. There is nothing worse than not liking or trusting your doctor. As for your question, Kathe, about Felty's syndrome: What is Felty's syndrome? Felty's syndrome is a complication of long-standing rheumatoid arthritis. Felty's syndrome is defined by the presence of 3 conditions: rheumatoid arthritis, an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly), and an abnormally low white blood count. Felty's syndrome affects less than 1% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. What are the symptoms of Felty's syndrome? Some patients with Felty's syndrome have more infections, such as pneumonia or skin infections, than the average person. This increased susceptibility to infections is attributed to the low white blood counts. Ulcers in the skin over the legs can complicate Felty's syndrome. What causes Felty's syndrome? The cause of Felty's syndrome is not known. White blood cells are produced in the bone marrow. There seems to be an active bone marrow function in patients with Felty's syndrome despite the low white blood counts. White cells may be stored excessively in the spleen of a patient with Felty's syndrome. This is especially true in patients with Felty's syndrome that have antibodies against the particular white blood cells usually affected (called granulocytes or neutrophils). How is Felty's syndrome diagnosed? There is no single test for Felty's syndrome. It is diagnosed based on the presence of the three conditions mentioned above. Most patients do have rheumatoid arthritis antibodies (rheumatoid factor) in the blood. How is Felty's syndrome treated? Treatment of Felty's syndrome is not always required. The underlying rheumatoid arthritis is managed in the standard fashion. Treatments used for patients with recurring infections, active arthritis, or ulcer in the legs include rheumatoid disease modifying drugs, such as gold salts, methotrexate, azathioprine, and penicillamine. Patients with severe infectious diseases may benefit by weekly injections with a stimulating factor (granulocyte stimulating factor/GSF) that acts to increase the amount of white blood cells. Surgical removal of the spleen has been performed for the same reasons, but has not been evaluated by long-term research studies. Re: [ ] Appointment Meredith Hi Meredith: It's always great to read about patient's clicking with their doctors and staff - sometimes it takes a few tries to get to the good ones! That is half the battle - just having communication and trust with your doctor is so important, and I am happy for you that you feel positive about your treatment program. I have RA, OA and Fibromyalgia and am also on an anti-depressant to help with nerve pain - Cymbalta. I was on Effexor XR for several years, but this new drug is more effective with the pain, and actually has given me a bit of energy too. Anti-depressants are used quite often for pain relief these days. I also take another drug for nerve pain, Lyrica, and also muscle relaxants Skelaxin and Zanaflex. I take Ambien CR for sleep. Ultram ER covers my pain meds. Whew! I am glad that your doctor, even though you are sero-negative RA, with possible lupus overlap, is taking the diagnosis seriously and treating you right away with Methotrexate. I am also on Mtx, as well as Enbrel and Mobic, for my RA, and have been on Mtx for about 4 years now with no problem. I hope that it is effective for you. Could I ask what Felty's syndrome is? I have heard of it before, but cannot remember exactly what it is. Is it also tied to the immune system? It does seem like when one of these immune system diseases gets on board, then others follow. I hope that today is a better day for you. Take care and good luck with your tx program! Kathe in CA --- Meredith Pinkerton <mlpinkerton@...> wrote: > Well I had my appointment with my rheumatologist > today. It was a good visit. I am sero-negative RA. > I may have lupus overlap. I also have felty's > syndrome. He gave me a new prescription which is a > low-dose anti-depressant (not because I'm depressed) > which is supposed to help with the muscle aches I > have in my chest, shoulder and neck. He also > increased my methatrexate to 15mg a week. I felt > positive about this appointment. I really like my > doctor and his staff. They all know me by name, > which is unusual for a large city doctor. They > always make me feel welcomed. Anyways, I was > worried about the on-coming fall and cooler weather. > Last winter was horrible!! I was really really > sick. But hopefully this winter will be better. I > hope everyone is doing well. > > Blessings, Meredith in Canada > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 so I do have Felty's syndrome and I guess only 1% of people who were diagnosed with Arthritis at a young age get it. Low white count (chronic) enlarged Spleen positive Ra factor I just have to monitor my WBC even closer Thanks a > > I know I don't post much at all but I do read often. > > anyone ever heard of this/have it? Docs think I might have this, I see online > about low white count and enlarged spleen (check to both) > > thanks > a S > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 Hi, a. Sorry to hear of this additional diagnosis. I had never heard of this before. How did they realize you had this? Where there any other symptoms or just the WBC and then they checked the spleen? Does this affect your course of treatment for the arthritis? Do you have to avoid anything due to the enlarged spleen? I was just thinking about when had mono and they were very worried about any spleen issues. Thanks for the update, and the information. I think it is important to share these things. Michele ( 22, spondy) ________________________________ From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of a Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 9:24 AM Subject: Re: Felty's Syndrome so I do have Felty's syndrome and I guess only 1% of people who were diagnosed with Arthritis at a young age get it. Low white count (chronic) enlarged Spleen positive Ra factor I just have to monitor my WBC even closer Thanks a > > I know I don't post much at all but I do read often. > > anyone ever heard of this/have it? Docs think I might have this, I see online > about low white count and enlarged spleen (check to both) > > thanks > a S > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2009 Report Share Posted May 23, 2009 , I started seeing a new rheumatologist. He looked at my history of low wbc and skin infections and decided to check my spleen to see if it was enlarged( an elarged spleen tends to eat wbc). So of course I did. then I got denied for rituxan which we think will help the spleen issues along with everythng else. so the doc ran some blood tests and yes I have felty's right now I am on orencia but I control the white cells with neulasta injections given at my hematologist/internists. I have been doing this for years, so we won't change that now with the felty's diagnosis. i just have to be extra careful with cuts/scrapes since it can turn into a very bad infection. This has happened and I almost lost my lower leg b/c my body couldn't fight it thanks a > > > > I know I don't post much at all but I do read often. > > > > anyone ever heard of this/have it? Docs think I might have this, I see > online > > about low white count and enlarged spleen (check to both) > > > > thanks > > a S > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 http://www.medicinenet.com/feltys_syndrome/page2.htm#5howisOn Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 1:49 PM, <jamie8177@...> wrote: Hi everyone! The lady who owns the curves that I go to was diagnosed with Felty's syndrome last week. From what I have been able to find on the internet, it is a rare disorder that occurs in 1% of people who have RA get this disease. Do any of you know much about Felty's syndrome? I had never heard of it but now I want to learn more about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Thanks for the link Deborah! Hi everyone! The lady who owns the curves that I go to was diagnosed with Felty's syndrome last week. From what I have been able to find on the internet, it is a rare disorder that occurs in 1% of people who have RA get this disease. Do any of you know much about Felty's syndrome? I had never heard of it but now I want to learn more about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 2 years ago they thought I could possibly have felty syndrome. I was taking Humira at the time and it really lowered my immune system. I was getting sick all the time and every little illness wiped out my blood counts. Thankfully I did not have it and learned that Humira at the regular dose it too much for my system. I hope she does ok, it was scary ...I dont know that much about it but I know it's not something you want to have. --- In Rheumatoid Arthritis , <jamie8177@...> wrote: > > Hi everyone! > The lady who owns the curves that I go to was diagnosed with Felty's syndrome last week. From what I have been able to find on the internet, it is a rare disorder that occurs in 1% of people who have RA get this disease. Do any of you know much about Felty's syndrome? I had never heard of it but now I want to learn more about it. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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