ITP or Something else??

Hi all,

My sister-in-law has been suffering for the past 8-9 months, and docs just aren't figuring out what is wrong with her.

She has low RBCs, low WBCs, low platelets, and low IGg/IGa serum.

They did a battery of tests back in June and ruled out lymphoma, but have not given her a diagnosis.

The treatment she has received is IVIG transfusions. She has had 4 now, and the first one upped her numbers but didn't get her out of the woods, her second did the same, now her third and fourth haven't helped.

Two questions:

1) Does this sound familiar to any of your stories? They never diagnosed her with anything but are still trying to help her.

2) We are located in Los Angeles, is there a specific doctor in So Cal we should be reaching out to?

Thanks so much for reading this. If you want to know any of her numbers from blood work or if she's had a test or treatment, please ask. We are desperate to get her better already.

Well, it doesn't sound like ITP. ITP only affects platelets. There are so many other disorders that can cause low white cells, platelets and red cells. Evans Syndrome is one. Has she had a bone marrow biopsy?

ITP is by definition isolated. Though the "I" in ITP doesn't stand for that, the disorder doesn't involve other problems in a CBC.

The Los Angeles area has many fine facilities and clinicians working out of the UCLA system. I have family in that area and they are getting excellent care through UCLA.

Please keep in mind that diagnosing hematologic disorders can take time. Often a pattern in the abnormalities only emerges through careful and protracted monitoring. You don't mention what the values for your sister-in-law's RBCs, WBCs, and platelets were. Mild variations may not be clinically significant. They can be caused by a wide variety of disorders. What was the working diagnosis that motivated the IvIG treatment?

I hope you're able to resolve this.