I am writing about my son who just underwent a blood transfusion as his red blood cell count was critically low. A grown man should have a red blood cell count between 12-15 my sons (25) red cell count was at 5. After his blood transfusion, three days later it has gone up to 9. The doctors seem to be saying this is because he has Crohn's is there any connection between Crohn's disease and low red blood cells counts. He take 4 pills once a day of Lialda, 1.2 grams each pill a total of 4.8 grams per day. He is sick, very very thin and miserable. We live in Los Angeles and need a better doctor as the one he now sees at Kasier does not seem to be able to make him any better. If you could tell me anything about why his red blood cell count is going down due to having Crohns it might be somewhere to start. Thanks much !
Low red blood cell count
- Thread starter NayBlue
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Catherine
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Welcome to the forum.
Crohn's can cause bleeding anywhere in the digestive track which can lead to a low haemoglobin count.
It can also cause problems with body's ability absorp to iron, folate and b12. All three are used in the production of red blood cells.
Lialda is the lowest level medication used for the treatment of Crohn's, and it sound like your son need something stronger.
Your son's Crohn's disease sound like it is out of control. It would be a good idea to get a second opinion.
Calling DustyKat for further advice.
Crohn's can cause bleeding anywhere in the digestive track which can lead to a low haemoglobin count.
It can also cause problems with body's ability absorp to iron, folate and b12. All three are used in the production of red blood cells.
Lialda is the lowest level medication used for the treatment of Crohn's, and it sound like your son need something stronger.
Your son's Crohn's disease sound like it is out of control. It would be a good idea to get a second opinion.
Calling DustyKat for further advice.
DustyKat
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Good heavens NayBlue, 5! Your son must have felt dreadful, poor lad. :ghug:
Catherine is spot on with her advice…
How long has your son had Crohn’s, where is his Crohn’s located and what are his symptoms?
If bleeding is a symptom for him then this may why he is anaemic.
If he is malnourished due to malnutrition then a deficiency in the B vitamins may be responsible along with iron and folate
If he has malabsorption due to inflammation and/or scarring then again he may well be deficient in again the B vitamins, iron and folate.
It may be that he has one of these things happening, a combination two or all three.
Do you have access to his blood results?
If so what his platelet count and do you know what his inflammatory markers, ESR and CRP, are?
Have they drawn blood for Iron Stores?
Again, as Catherine has said, Lialda is an entry level drug and primarily used for mild disease only. I assume since this is the preparation of 5ASA that was chosen he has large bowel disease? If so then the effectiveness of the drug for Crohn’s is generally less than it is for UC for which the drug is primarily used.
From what you are describing your son needs urgent review and I imagine that is what the doctors are doing now? If not then he needs to be seen by another GI that will go on the offensive and get him well on the road to recovery and remission.
Please keep us posted with how you are getting on.
Dusty. xxx
Catherine is spot on with her advice…
How long has your son had Crohn’s, where is his Crohn’s located and what are his symptoms?
If bleeding is a symptom for him then this may why he is anaemic.
If he is malnourished due to malnutrition then a deficiency in the B vitamins may be responsible along with iron and folate
If he has malabsorption due to inflammation and/or scarring then again he may well be deficient in again the B vitamins, iron and folate.
It may be that he has one of these things happening, a combination two or all three.
Do you have access to his blood results?
If so what his platelet count and do you know what his inflammatory markers, ESR and CRP, are?
Have they drawn blood for Iron Stores?
Again, as Catherine has said, Lialda is an entry level drug and primarily used for mild disease only. I assume since this is the preparation of 5ASA that was chosen he has large bowel disease? If so then the effectiveness of the drug for Crohn’s is generally less than it is for UC for which the drug is primarily used.
From what you are describing your son needs urgent review and I imagine that is what the doctors are doing now? If not then he needs to be seen by another GI that will go on the offensive and get him well on the road to recovery and remission.
Please keep us posted with how you are getting on.
Dusty. xxx
Thanks very much for being so informative. My son has had Crohns for almost 5 years, it is severe. We am going to need to change course right away. Thanks I will get back to this thread when things develop. I like what I see in Dusty"s program as it is not just more drugs.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
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In some less common cases Crohn's affects bone marrow, and the result is poor red blood cell production. I speak from experience, as this is how my Crohn's was detected. I went through a few years of very low hemoglobin, red blood cell problems and it took a number of drug protocols to get sorted out. I was given blood transfusions and iron infusions. I have severe Crohn's. Your son needs to get on something strong like Remicade or Humira.
