Help needed for newbies

[Fourlocos]

Hi my son who is 27 just had his first remicade infusion this morning. While there the doctor came in and told him his ASCA igA Elisa is 34.4. Value is 20.4
His ASCA igG is 110.4 value is 22.2.

These blood tests had come back since he was there two weeks ago. Because of this she said he has increased risk of aggressive disease and wants to add to the remicade either 6mp or azathioprine. She knows I am researching everything and sent me a note. She told us to look at the Sonic trials which did not show increase adverse events with combination therapy up to 1 year. This is where I need your input and help. Is this unusual or not? Should I be more concerned than I am already? Which drug should we choose. Now if I had been there, I had already left him with the nurses and decided to leave for the couple hours since the rooms are too small, I would have asked which she felt was best since we like the doctor very much and trust her judgement. But that isn't the case, it is our decision to make and we aren't experienced enough with Crohn's yet to know.

Thanks in advance for any insights!

 

[Domsmom]

I am new too, so my opinion might not be that great. I'm about to start Remicade, but I have be on azathioprine...and I was not warned about the possibility of pancreatitis (which I had within 3 weeks of starting it!!) Hope that everything goes well and you get the information you need to make an informed decision.

 

[Fourlocos]

Glad you mentioned that! I didn't even see it on the list of side effects I had previous read. Hope other pipe in with some help here. Is this a case of the worst of two evils?

 

[Crohns08]

I've read studies and my doctors have pondered the risks of lymphoma when you combine the therapies, so that is something you should research and consider. I am on humira and doing great so far. I'm still scared and nervous of the side effects of the humira alone, but I was pushed to the brink and I had to do something. You have to ultimately way the risks vs the benefits.

 

[Fourlocos]

I know what you mean, we are so freaked out also. But I just read the Sonic Clinical Trials on Remicade with Imuran and it doesn't seem to change the stats on bad outcomes such as lymphoma. We are damned if we do or damned if we don't I guess. I am not sure we have a choice.