Platelet transfusion and severe hives

Not sure why I had to register again but I am an adult who has been dealing with ITP for nine years. I have has a year reprieve until last week. I noticed petechei(sp?) on went to out patient as it was Saturday for a CBC. Counts were at 17,000 and dropping. They could not get the needle stick to stop bleeding so off to the ER.
I was given a transfusion on platelets and 100 mg Prednisone.

My platelets jumped to 40,000 the next day and I was going to be released. I then developed hives covering almost 100% of my body... It is now day 6 and the hives are still here. I am home but looking like something from a horror flick.

I was given Benedryl in the hospital every four hours but it seemed to make it worse not better. So it was stopped and I was given a different allergy pill which helped.

They are saying I developed a latex allergy overnight ( I disagree) or an allergic reaction to the platelets.

Anyone have any thoughts...........

oh my....sorry no ideas, but I will be praying for you!

Allergic reactions are one of the pit falls of platelet transfusions and one reason why they are not recommended for an ITP treatment. The more transfusions you have, the greater the risk of a reaction. The problem is that if you really do need a transfusion at one point due to an accident or surgery, you can't get one.

Hope your hives get better!

Sandi, I didn't know that. I'll have to keep that in mind. Thanks

Thanks- first transfusion in over four years. It has been 7 days and hives are still here........Of course the Hemo in the hospital wanted to immediately remove my spleen......

And you said....?

Problems with transfusions:

1. each transfusion you have increases possibility of serious allergic reactions.
2. risk of bacterial infections.
3. post transfusion purpura.
4. the possibility of becoming refractory to transfusions.

The one time I ever had a platelet transfusion, back in 1980, during a csection, I got a fever and the shakes in the recovery room. With this upcoming surgery, my hemo says that if necessary (at my pre op with him, 1 week before surgery), if my count is less than 75,000, he'll give me a short course of prednisone rather than risk another reaction after a platelet transfusion, even though it's been almost 30 years!

Sandi wrote:

Problems with transfusions:

1. each transfusion you have increases possibility of serious allergic reactions.
2. risk of bacterial infections.
3. post transfusion purpura.
4. the possibility of becoming refractory to transfusions.

I have been told that, but other people i talk to who also have T.A.R syndrome have said their doctors have said there is nothing wrong with having several transfusions. Glad i didn't listen to them cause i knew what i had been told what right.

Prior to the Eltrombopag trial I have been on for three years now, I was refractory to platelet tranfusions. Thankfully, in between the first and second stage of the trial when I was off Eltrombopag for a month they were effective again. I had a nose bleed that went on for 5 hours and was crying tears of blood, I was given a combination of platelet infusions and intravenous tranexamic acid, which worked.

Obviously, it is possible for the refactory effect to reverse with time. For which I am grateful .

I am not sure why they went with the platelet transfusion prior to trying the prednisone that I react well to . It was 3 am and I guess I was not thinking clearly. Every hemo at that hospital always wanted to remove my spleen and I always argue against it.

My regular hemo whom I have been with nine years does not go to this facility and I do not go to the hospital where he makes rounds as it is downtown and not in the best area for my family to visit.

Day 8 and hives are finally going away and I now resemble the MTV moon man.

I will be going to see my regular hemo tomorrow and will get a better
perspective of another few months of the lovely prednisone.

They also want me tested by an allergist for latex and benedryl allergies.

My employer is expecting me back to work Tuesday and I am so physically and emotionally drained I don't know how it will end up.

Weird think is I had a extreme drop last year almost exactly at the same time of year so maybe they allergy is a trigger to look at.........


:silly:

I Hope you get some answers. I'm sorry you had to experience this reaction, it sounds horrible.

Oh.....I'm so glad your getting better. Is that MTV moon man still around!? I remember when MTV first came out! :ohmy: I'm showing my age! LOL!
Back to work huh? What do you do, if you don't mind me asking.

I am a eligibility advocate at a hospital. Helping people that are not insured, under insured or able to apply for disability and then help with the paperwork.

I am so tired and 100 mg Predisone wreaking havock on my body......Only the hemo will tell if I can go back ......

What a great job! I'm wondering about going back to work too. Not sure how that will go. I think the decision to go back is up to you. If you want to, then go. If you don't tell the doc that and he should give you the LOA. I'm not sure that ITP is a disorder that qualifies for disability or not. And I'm also not sure if it's grounds to get unemployment because you quit your job because of health issues. I guess every state/country is different. I'll be investigating it though.
I was on 100mg prednisone for a month and am now tapering off. I personally find the tapering off worse than being on it! I only sleep 4 hours a nite, am constantly tired and fatigued and the mood swings. Oh man.....it's not fun for me. It will be over soon, and God as my witness, I will never, ever take it again!
Can't wait to hear how it goes for you.

Thanks- tapering is worse. But after so many days at home I am ready to strangle my spouse. I tried to explain I am yelling because I have no control not because I want to.

ITP does not in itself qualify as a disability. To file for disability you have to have been told by a doctor that you cannot do any type of work at all for over a one year period.

I like working and find it rewarding. I have been lucky with so may remissions over the last nine years. I was hoping for more then a year but take it day by day.

Hives gone and back to work tomorrow.......Counts at 388,000 which I have never been at in my life. Getting blood work weekly as I taper from the lovely Prednisone.

Spoke to my regular hemo ( love him) and discussed and shelved the spleenectomy as for now I will deal with the prednisone....

woo hoo! 388! that's great! I'll be thinking of you as you taper off the prednisone. I'm almost done. today and tomorrow then it's gone!
I like working too. Always have. It's a huge adjustment to be at home all the time. I was supposed to go back this Thursday, but my count is still only 11. Not comfortable going back to being a waitress with that low of a count. We'll see how the NPlate goes.

counts 210 but down to 20 mg Prednisone....I usually stabilize around 160....
My hemo actually showed me a 5 year graph of my counts and the roller coaster sure looked fun but we all know it is not..