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Cause for ANEMIA with chronic shortness of breath.

Resolved Question:

Hi, Im asking a medical question for my grandmother in china. She is 74 years old

She experienced chronic shortness of breath and after going to the hospital was diagnosed with anemia. The doctors said that her red blood cells is getting destroyed although her body has no problem producing it. They put her on steroids for the past 3 weeks But they cannot find out the cause of the anemia. The doctors there are just trying to proscribe her different medicines without finding out the actual cause of the anemia. Now they are telling us that they want to give her rituximab, which is expensive and with a lot of side effects, and they said it is not guaranteed to work.

Please help me find the cause of the anemia or suggest likely causes and what other testes that we have to do to confirm. Any input and suggestion is welcome.

this is some information that i translated from her hospital blood test report

Category: Hematologist

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Category: Hematologist
 18 Doctors Online

Hello,

Thank you for choosing DoctorSpring.

I have gone through the blood tests you have shared. Unfortunately few important and required tests are missing. Do you have any other blood investigation reports with you ? If so please share as a followup.

Thank you


Patient replied :

Hi, sorry for the wait, here are some more numbers.


Thank you

Some of values are missing and some are bit confusing (I suspect possible translation error). But no issues. Most likely she is suffering from an autoimmune hemolytic anemia. The main treatment is steriods. If steroids are not being effective then secondary options like Rituximab has to be considered.

While there are many precipitating and underlying causes are there for autoimmune hemolytic anemia, the treatment is NOT targeted on them (unlike many other diseases ). Azathioprine, Cyclophosphamide, Cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, Plasmapheresis are other treatment options which are lesser expensive than Rituximab. But it depends on the type of anemia.

Do discuss this option with your Doctor and the quality of life she will be having
Let me know if you need any more help

Thank you


Dr. Prasad Eswaran
Category: Hematologist
Experience: 
Doctorate in Medicine (Fellowship in Oncology), DM,  Madras Medical College & Govt. General Hospital, Chennai, India.

Doctor of Medicine (Residency in Radiation Oncology) , MD, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamilnadu, India, 2004-06.

Diploma in Medical Radiology & Therapy (Residency in Radiation Oncology), D.M.R.T, Madras Medical College & Govt. General Hospital, Chennai, India, 2004-06.

Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery - M.B.B.S, Govt. Stanley Medical College & Hospital, Chennai, India, 1998-2004.
Dr. Prasad Eswaran and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

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