Promacta vs Nplate

Hi everyone. My mom just had surgery to remove a blood. She has ITP and her platelet numbers have hovered at only around 30-40k post surgery. They tried to give her anticoagulant Heparin but that made her bleed significantly. Steroids and hemoglobin treatment isn't working. Today the hematologist had her injected with NPlate - but I'm reading about the side effects and reading about Promacta. Is it nuts to be treating her with either Nplate or Promacta when a side effect is blood clots?? Thanks in advance for your input.

Why do they want to get her count up? A count of 30 or so is a good enough count for normal living for most people. Do they have a reason for needing a higher count?

I did a show a couple of years ago for interesting cases in Hematology. I asked a Hematologist there about my own numbers and he said, "At the end of the day, they're just numbers and people function with low numbers all the time". The question is, how do you feel and what symptoms do you display? He told me (funny enough) that, "If my counts were 30,000 I could be just fine, but I wouldn't use a motorcycle for my primary transportation if you know what I mean". They're just numbers. I watch mine carefully but don't gauge how I feel or making medical decisions exclusively on them.

I'm assuming you meant "removed a blood clot" since you mentioned Heparin. Managing low platelet numbers while having blood clots can be tricky. They do have to get her counts up in order to give her the Heparin. Honestly, I do not know the safest way to do that. Hopefully they start with a low dose and monitor her well.

Im on Promacta its a miracle drug..its probably the most effect drug out there..if you read about the side affects on aspirin your going to go crazy...I say...Promacta Promacta Promacta has she even tried it..people with ITP have water for blood..SOMEONE PLEASe CLOT MY BLOOD...there is always dosages low to higher..nothing personal but if you were my child and had to make decisions for my care ...ughhh God Help me..do more research if you have to but it appears you have only read one article...and made a decision..that is not doing your Mother or who your caring for any justice...

Krisy, it's not as easy as that. If the patient already has a clotting disorder then Promacta might not be the best choice. Not all ITP patients have "water for blood". In fact ITP patients have a propensity to clot added to which those who have been splenectomised or have APS clot even more. Do some more reading Krisy.