Low Platelett. Watery bloody stools. Arthritis.

I have enteropathic arthritis, but not ITP. My arthritis is treated with sulfasalazine and biologics (Simponi currently). With the concurrent ITP, I doubt they would consider biologics, since bone marrow suppression is a risk. NSAIDs are another mainstay, but if you already have GI bleeding, they probably don't want to go there either, at least until the ITP resolves (if it resolves). If the ITP proves chronic, they may need to do a splenectomy.

Good luck! It seems you have some challenges.

Jan

Thank you very much Jan,
at the moment no treatment jet for my EA, only Zapain 3 time a day to be able to walk. My priority now is the dangerously platelets' low level (was 15 now 53). This friday I'll have the blood test done again, next monday the bone scan and then they'll decided what to do. I hope to avoid the spleenectomy…. fingers crossed..
Luckely, from the sigmoscopy, my J-pouche looks ok… thanks God.
Thank you again for your support and to take your time to replay.
A wander if my watery maroon stolls colour is because I'm taking 14x5mg prednisolone dark orange coated tablets a day???
All the best Jan
Italian

Could be, but I would not think so. It is an easy bedside test to see if it is blood or not. Very low platelets can cause GI bleeding without there being any inflammation in there.

Jan

Saw your post about ITP, and just wanted to say that I struggled with that back in '07. My platelets kept dropping to 10, at which point I was lethargic and bruising, and passing lots of blood in my stool. Did not have pouch at time but was having many bouts of Ulcerative Colitis. After bone marrow test to rule out cancer, diagnosed with ITP, was on 70 of prednisone to get under control. Bottom line, never in the months following could I get off prednisone- as I tapered down to 10mg platelets would bottom out. Had splenectomy, no complications. Later had to resort to Remicade for UC, now pouch as of March, but no more platelet issues. Good luck! LJZ

Thank you so much, we are in Uk, Brighton. This is Luigi's wife, he was admitted to hospital last night, as lost so much blood in the stools, he had blood transfusions. I will leave a message after I visit today. It has been so stressful, not knowing what to do, thank you all so much, it is really appreciated.
(it takes both Sunshine and rain to make a rainbow) Let's hope the sun comes out soon...

Let the sun shine on you both! Hope he's doing well and they are able to resolve bleeding! Keep us posted!
Ljz

Good luck! I know these things can be extremely stressful. He's getting the care he needs (hopefully some platelet transfusions too, since packed cells do not contain platelets). I hope he has not been taking any aspirin (even low dose "baby" aspirin) because it deactivates platelets for 30 days after taking it. He needs all the platelets he can get!

Jan

Many thanks, that is so kind of you, unfortunately the computers have crashed at the hospital so a bit of a disaster. No, no aspirin, I am a bit of a google greek and have been researching his conditions like crazy for twelve months or more, not with many results. He had 2 units of blood,over night and platelet transfusions, I think again now, I think I understood the bleeding could be from the stomach, he doesn't have rectum or colon. He is having gastrolo..the one with a camera.. hopefully tomorrow. I will undate then, it is good therapy, knowing we are not alone. I just panic they may send him home too early again, so will speak to our local Gp tomorrow and a nurse who knows the situation well. All for now, wishing you a really good week and thank you from the bottom of my heart. x

Platelets recover sooner than that, but a dose or two of donor platelets is the treatment for aspirin therapy.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22268852

I hope they have discovered the cause of his blood loss and he is doing much better after his transfusions.

Thanks for the correction Rachel. I see that platelets are permanetly disabled, but replaced in a few days.

Jan

Thank you everyone you are very kind. Well, all a bit complicated, Luigi has the J pouch, 2 weeks ago diagnosed ITP and he had last year diagnosed Enteropathic Arthritis. This Tues he was re admitted to hospital as he had lost so much blood, he had been loosing loads of plum coloured blood in watery stools for a month. he got to A & E just in time and had 2 units. Since then in Digestive Diseases ward, so many transfusions, I don't know which is which..they also treated possible pouchitis, but don't think that. He is still losing blood daily and his frequency is very high, day and night. They did the normal tests and found nothing, hopefully, Monday the capsule camera one, (that's what we have been waiting for) as the blood is black. Many thanks, he is his usual cheery self, getting up to help anyone and everyone, Oh, still on 70mg prednisolone for the ITP. Wishing everyone on the site, a happy and peaceful weekend. x