Low Hemoglobin and low platelets - Lupus?

Question

My mom was diagnosed with low hemoglobin a year ago and has been placed on Thalidomide and periodical blood transfusion. However recently, another complication set in i.e. low platelet (as low as 8,000 where the minimum should read 150,000. Doctors now say that her own antibodies are destroying the platelets. Is this condition what they call "Lupus"? If so, what can we do to control or overcome this disoder? Pls help....Thanks

Answer 1

I'm not diagnosing here for I am not your mother's doctor, but Lupus would not be by first choice. I would think more on the lines of thrombocytopenia which has to do with blood and platelets. It could be even related to taking to much aspirin which also effects the platelets. Your mother's doctor needs to do more tests before he can make a diagnosis himself/herself.
Defintion of Lupus:
Lupus is an autoimmune disease. Your body’s immune system is like an army with hundreds of soldiers. The immune system’s job is to fight foreign substances in the body, like germs and viruses. But in autoimmune diseases, the immune system is out of control. It attacks healthy tissues, not germs. Lupus is a disease that can affect many parts of the body. One person with lupus may have swollen knees and fever. Another person may be tired all the time or have kidney trouble. Someone else may have rashes. Lupus can involve the joints, the skin, the kidneys, the lungs, the heart and/or the brain.

For more information on the types of lupus, signs and symptoms, diagnostic tests, treatments and coping check out this website.
http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/lupus/tengo/english.htm#b

Here is a website for thrombocytopenia .
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thrombocytopenia/DS00691/DSECTION=7

Also check out the website listed below under sources; it gives some other explanations for low platelets and anemia.

Good luck and please don't try to second guess what your mother's doctor will diagnosis. It can cause a lot of stress and worry and it may not be as serious. Take care.

Answer 2

Hi there!

I am new here, and came on trying to help others with Lupus. We are based in Australia, and have just started a site for patients and anyone touched by Lupus.

It definitely sounds like your mum may have Lupus, my husband was diagnosed with Lupus two years ago, and when he was admitted to the hospital they found the same thing, that his platelet count was being destroyed by his antibodies. His count was 2,500, and he was unconscious for a couple of days while they transfused him. The Lupus then started an attack on his kidneys, and eventually after much testing we were able to get his condition controlled my a regime of medications.

After several months we managed to get the Lupus into remission, where it stayed for 8 months. My hubby has had another flare, which has been active now for 6 months, only this time it only attacked the kidneys and skin, and not the blood.

I hope this helps and that you get some answers for your mum.

Please feel free to drop by the site where we have lots of info, and forums for help and support for those touched by Lupus.

All the best.

Answer 3

Low Hemoglobin And Low Platelets

Answer 4

It could be Lupus - there are, however, a bunch of other autoimmune diseases that it could be. Lupus is, however, a prime candidate as it attacks just about anything in the body - platelets included.

Anti-inflammatories/Immunosuppresive medicines are needed to combat Lupus, particularly steroid medications.

Answer 5

Hopefully, I can save you and your mom years of misdiagnosis. I went through this for 11 years before discovering my illness was nothing more than undiagnosed food allergies. When I eleminated my allergens, my symptoms resolved. When I cheat on my diet, they come back. I was told I had lupus, arthritis, and about a hundred other itises. Please go to the files section of my yahoo group http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/foodallergynetwork/ where you can read all about ways to recover from chronic illness. Best of luck, I hope this helps

edit: you can email me if you would like more info