low white blood cell count

[Guest guest]

Could anyone tell me info about low whit blood cell counts. My 16yr

old has had his blood drawn twice and both times came back with a

very low white count. I recieved a message today that they were going

to send these results to his immunologist. I don't know what problems

a low white count will cause. My son's on IVIG. He has been having

symptoms of being very tired, we know that goes along with mito. He

does have a cold, but thats nothing unusual for him. If anyone has

any information it would be appreciated.

Lori

[Guest guest]

> Lori,

Is it low normal or below normal? It is not abnormal for people

with mito to have a decrease in cell counts (platelets, whites

cells, or red cells). Everyone in my family had low normal or below

normal white cells. What was his neutrophil count? ANC? This is the

neutrophil % times the white cells example: 35% neutrophils 4.1

white cells would be =1.435 (.35 x 4.1=1.435) anything under 1500 is

considered an slight increased risk for infection. below 1000

moderate, and below 500 severe. Any other questions let me know!

had bone marrow failure so this is what we do!

Dawn

You can email me privately if you wish!

[Guest guest]

Dawn,

Thank you for responding. Your info was very helpful. I had so many questions to ask 's immunologist, but I got a call from the pediatrician instead. He said the results were very severe. He set up a Hematology appt. for Wed. He explained the blood counts to me the same way you did. The total count was 390. Of course when I was speaking to the doctor my two girls were acting up. I didn't get all my questions answered. I still don't know what were in for with these levels. What did they do to stop 's bone marrow failure? Thank you again for helping.

Lori

Re: low white blood cell count

> Lori,Is it low normal or below normal? It is not abnormal for people with mito to have a decrease in cell counts (platelets, whites cells, or red cells). Everyone in my family had low normal or below normal white cells. What was his neutrophil count? ANC? This is the neutrophil % times the white cells example: 35% neutrophils 4.1 white cells would be =1.435 (.35 x 4.1=1.435) anything under 1500 is considered an slight increased risk for infection. below 1000 moderate, and below 500 severe. Any other questions let me know! had bone marrow failure so this is what we do! DawnYou can email me privately if you wish! Please contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.

[Guest guest]

Lori,

has bone marrow failure that affects her white and red

cells. She receives transfusions for her red cells problems (every

three weeks her whole life) and we just monitor her white cell

issue. They have been up and down. The one time they were 0 she was

given a medication to help stimulate production called neupogen. It

caused them to skyrocket and then come back to normal. Some people

need this medication given one to two times a week and some once a

month. It is a shot (like an insulin injection you can give at

home).Mostly we just protect her the best we can from infection. We

don't go out much. She also has an immuno problem that she recieves

IVIG for which has helped alot. You may want to do testing for

cyclical neutropenia-which means the neutrophils go up and down in

cycles. You would need to test a few times a week for 8 weeks. Then

you would be able to pin down the cycle and pin point the bad time.

Maybe it was just a fluke too. I hope I didn't scare you. EVen with

all of 's problems we manage very well. It is just what we do.

It can be very scary at first. We have been doing this since

birth.Let me know if I can help further.

Dawn

[Guest guest]

What is IVIG?

Thanks,

Tammy

[Guest guest]

IVIG- Is Intravenous Gammaglobulin. It's used to help people who have an immune deficiency. It a type of blood transfusion. People usually get an infusion every three- four weeks. My son gets it every two weeks. The duration is determined by the amount of infections. hope this helps.

Re: Re: low white blood cell count

What is IVIG?

Thanks,

TammyPlease contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.