From:
magik87@putercom.org
Date: 2003-11-20 23:38:12 UTC
Subject: RE: Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <8345611.1069371492754.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Well, I can't help with the cause, but I can give you some hope for the treatment.
Our Leo developed an autoimmune disorder at 5 months; his body was killing off the red blood cells as quick as they were getting produced. Byt the time we realized he was sick and got him into the vet, he was down to a PCV of 12. 2 transfusions, some epoetin shots and lots of Pred later he was back up to a pcv of 60. So we started tapering the Pred. Once we got below a dosage of .2cc twice a day he crashed and got down to a PCV of 10. So three more transfusions, epoetin and high doses of Pred. He was touch and go for a while because he had a reaction or something to what they use to keep the blood thinned out for the transfusions and was bleeding out nearly all the transfused blood. We finally got him back up to a normal range.
Then came the problems related to the Pred. After many months of a stablizing dosage of .2cc twice a day Leo was starting to drop weight and lose fur. He had never grown the fur back from the marrow biopsy that was done at the onset of the disease. So the doctor decided to take a chance and get Leo switched over to Imuran to control the problem. So we very slowly tapered the Pred and introduced the Imuran (.19cc/day), closely monitoring his PCV. After we got Leo off the Pred, he gained all the lost weight (now 2lb 5oz), has a luxurious coat of fur and has maintained a PCV of 65 for the last 4 months.
Just wanted you to know that there are others who have been where you are at and come out the other side ok.