I have a question for a hematologist or someone who knows alot about it. I am aware that I will not be able to get a diagnosis this way and need to have an appointment with my own hematologist and not take any information I receive from a response to this mesg to serious. A few weeks ago I went in to simply have my blood type checked to make sure that there were going to be no complications if I get pregnant the midwife decided she wanted to check my antibody's to make sure there wasn't an antibody that could cause recurrent miscarriage. The results came back as a red blood cell antibody and they needed more blood to do a titer and mmr. The results after they received and tested more blood came back as a warm antibody and they sent a plastic card from the blood center that has my blood type A positive and antibody type which is warm antibody. The docs then thought the typical of warm antibody ether lupus leukemia lymphoma or rumitoid arthritis. They did more blood work I think a ana or something that tests for the lupus and ra and then cbc for the other two they said everything looked fine no lupus or anemia showed up on the testing so they said I need to see a hematologist where im confused is the testing they did checked out fine then whats the cause for the warm antibody. Im wondering could it still be Leukemia or type of lymphoma that the cbc is not going to show for some reason? they said another possibility is i wouldn't be able to except a blood transfusion? Why would that be? and what would the alternative be if I needed a transfusion. Also what is your opinion on a bone marrow biopsy do you think it would be beneficial? I am 110 pounds 21 years old and already had my gall bladder out because of gall stones could that all be related. also ive noticed what feels like heart attacks and extreme sudden headaches on the right front side of my head that dont last two long and they feel like a sledge on my head in a small area and I have been having for a year when I stand from bending over and sometimes sitting Everything goes black and I get very dizzy and a headache and have to hold my head with my face towards the ground to get everything feeling back to normal and the stomach cramping on my upper abdomen has not gone away even tho I had my gall bladder out I also experience several utis a month not sure if all these are related or separate symptoms from the antibody some input please it is going to be more than a few days before I can see a hematologist because of insurance and am panacing just want some explanation to put my mind at ease so I have some sort of answer. Not even sure if the testing they performed was correct both my fathers parents had cancer one leukemia and lymphoma the other one of them passed away not sure who had who but i think my dads dad had the lymphoma he the one who died. Answers please
Warm Antibody Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia is an autoimmune disease of the blood, it's not the most common disease in the world but it is the most common cause of warm antibodies next to Lupus. It's not cancer.
If you do have an autoimmune disease of the blood - your immune system is mistakenly attacking your red blood cells - then transfusions can be tricky, all those "new" red blood cells could cause your faulty immune system to go into overdrive. You may need to take a steroid medication before or during, to tamp down any bad immune response.
Here's an info page on immune-related Hemolytic Anemias (there are several different kinds) that discusses transfusions:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000576.htm
Last edited by AuntieLeela; 10-08-2009 at 12:27 AM.
my husband has hemolytic anemia and has warm antibodies. He does not have lymphoma but is monitered every few months. He would get very dizzy, tired, headaches, chest pains and jaundiced.
Mel52 - my husband has autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Bone marrow test ruled out a lot of scary stuff. We believe penicillin started the first round in August; Prednisone eased the destruction of red cells, and in fact the local hematologist weaned him OFF of Prednisone. As of last Monday he felt the symptoms return, and now his hemoglobin is at 9.0, so we are dropping again. Interested to know how you and yours have progressed, and any advice you might wish to share would be appreciated. thanks in advance
Hi, hubby is doing well. He had his spleen removed in 2007. He wasn't faring well with the predisone and wanted off of it so he opted to have the spleen removed. It put him into remission. They did a bone marrow test at the time, did biopsies on his liver etc. He was told everything was fine and shortly after he retired from his job, which meant a change of insurance. The new hemotologist thought removing the spleen was a little drastic and he would have used other drugs and perhaps chemo first. Whatever, it was done. The dr dropped out of the insurance plan and again, he had a new hemotologist. I went through my husband's paperwork again and reread the bone marrow biopsy. There were cells that were not normal but it didn't indicate for sure any disease. The new hemotologist offered to do another bone marrow test, but hubby said no. His blood tests are good, so we are hoping whatever was abnormal and suspicious were contained in the spleen.
He does have to be very careful to protect against illness. Anyone sick can't come over to the house. We keep antiobiotics on hand all the time, however, he hasn't been sick. He does have another major hip surgery coming up and will require transfusions. Dr don't let him donate his own blood saying it will knock him down too much. The blood has to be a perfect cross match.
USC, UCLA, can't think of the hospital up north. All good
The Following User Says Thank You to Mel52 For This Useful Post: Hurkey G (11-23-2010)
I truly value your info; thanx for taking the time. Today his hemoglobin is 7.4; hematologist put him on 100 mg Prednisone. Praying things turn the right way in the next 24-48 hrs. Called USC today; they can see him next week at the earliest. Seeking the Lord. His pulse is our indicator; the complete resting rate at night goes up and down based on his red count. He can't get it down below 82 at night so we knew he had dropped. He's slightly jaundiced ... again ... but not like a banana like the first time. Trying to avoid transfusion and hospital; praying this dose works. It worked before; doctor ultra confident it will work now. Thanks for helping me out ... blessings ...
Oh, also; I had my hip replaced in March; best thing I ever did!!! Had the less-invasive procedure done, incision is only 4-5 inches. My pain was unbearable, joint was shot for years ....so the pain of the surgery felt like nothing! I was up walking on it the same day; amazing! pain free. I wish your husband the best!!
I hope your hubby is doing better today and is getting in to USC. Glad your hip surgery went well. My husband's first set of hips lasted for 16 years. He had the liner and ball replaced in both hipsr 3 and 4 years ago again and now he has to have a complete redo as the worn cup material has caused his body to react to it and put holes in the bones requiring bone grafts and screws. Not a happy camper.
