A few questions if you can help please!

Hi!

My name is Chase, I was dignosed with ITP November 27, 2011 and have been in the process of working on my counts. I started out on predisonie 80 mg a day and saw a littel bit of improvment I went from 24k to 31k and then started falling off. The next week I went form 30k to 8k so my hemo doctor bumped me up to 120 mg a day and I saw a littel bit of improvment again back up to 30k. But knowing I cant and wont stay at 120 mg of Predisone the next thing that we tryed was one 7 hour process of IVIG wich I saw a dramatic increase to 149k but nine days later and still on 60 mg of predisone i'm back at back at 44k. Today my doctor suggested somthing new called Nplate. I'm just looking to see if any one has had this done and how it worked for them and also any suggestions on other treatments people might recommend any help is appreciated as I want to do my homework before I jump into anything.

Thanks,

Chase

Chase:

A big part of the treatment decision is the actual result you hope to get. Some treatments can cause remission and some are considered maintenance treatments. However, a person with ITP can go into remission at any time, regardless of the treatment.

Quite a few people here are using N-Plate. It is one of the newest ITP treatments available. It works differently than some of the other treatments; it bumps up production instead of curbing destruction. It is considered a maintenance treatment, meaning that you may not obtain remission but will have to keep taking the drug. While using N-Plate, the goal is to achieve counts around 50 and not necessarily normal counts.

There is a treatment called Rituxan which is a series of four weekly infusions. It has a pretty good remission rate with the average remission being 12 months. Some people have had much longer than that and some have ended up back at treatment level within 6 to 8 months. Side effects for most are minimal.

If you look in the treatments section, you will see a lot of posts about N-Plate. It might help to read through them.

Sandi, Thanks very much for the info I will check into the treatments section!

Hooray for your doctor for suggesting something other than removing your spleen!
Erica

Eklein, I know it my doctor said that was the last option on his list!

Hi Chase. Welcome.
I have had Nplate. And Rituxan. You will get used to the phrase that everyone responds differently to treatments. As with you the prednisone did nothing at all for me. Good luck and can't wait to hear how it works out for you.

Server, How did Nplate and Rituxan work for you did you preferr one over the other or see better results. I know Nplate is more of a stabalizer where Rituxan is more of a booster.

Most people try Rituxin before NPlate because its just 4 infusions, not ongoing like NPlate. So its easier to try. Rituxin worked a bit for me, it brought my counts up to 25K, and allowed me to get off prednisone. I didn't have any side effects just a slight reaction to the infusion, which stopped when they slowed the infusion down.

Rituxin worked (somewhat) for 6 mos then my counts dropped so I went to Promacta which is like NPlate but is a pill. I've experienced a few more side effects than with Rituxin. Your doctor may have not suggested Rituxin because of side effects? Many people have good luck with it though there is some risk. Good luck, hopefully it will resolve!

Hello Chase welcome, I'm a newbie too. Hope you find what works best for you. I am now in the process of the Rituxan treatments 2 down and 2 more to go....

Good luck and keep us posted.

Welcome. Rituxan is working for me. I had two treatments. The first lasted 16 months, the second is going on over 2 years! Counts are staying around 200k. Everyone responds differently though. Rituxan takes awhile, even after the 4th dose. It can take several weeks after the last treatment before resulst can be seen. Glad your Dr. feels there are other options vs a Spleenectomy.