Dear Sandy, I would tend to agree with Trey. The red blood cell indices can indicate some anemia but as long as Randy's HGB is okay, the doctor cannot do much. During the first year or so of Gleevec, Roy's red blood cell parameters were not always in the normal range but stabilized with time. I really most look at WBC, Platelet Count, HGB, HCT and basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, the main indices that show normal production of blood cells from the marrow.
The FISH test is very important. Cytogenetic and molecular testings are important for disease monitoring and to see whether the disease is being held in control. Once a patient is in hematologic remission (normalization of WBC, platelet count and no immature cells in the blood), important findings from the blood counts remain whether WBC, platelets are in normal range and whether the patient is having Gleevec induced anemia.(Gleevec by inhibiting the enzyme C-kit, can affect the normal production of red blood cells). Keep us updated about Randy's FISH test results. Best Wishes, Anjana caregiver to Roy --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ [CMLHope] A support group of http://cmlhope.com ------------------------------------------------- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CMLHope" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/CMLHope -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
