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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Hi, I Was Diagnosed With MPA/GPA Vasculitis In 2014-treated With

Hi, I was diagnosed with MPA/GPA vasculitis in 2014-treated with rituximab, 4 infusions x 2 rounds 6 months apart, last dose July 2015. Developed hemolytic anemia prior to the 2nd round. MDs felt it was drug effect from antibiotics I received for sinus infection and proceeded to give the full second round. Anemia worsened, symptoms worsened such as bad headaches,fatique, dyspnea, digestion problems such as reflux, nausea, decreased appetite. (Echo and lung CT negative) CT abd/pelvis showed nodular liver with portal hypertension.Have a history of cyrptogenic hepatitis 24 years ago that resolved after pregnancy with my first daughter with normalization of liver enzymes since then. Big spleen=1100ml. Went to liver specialist recently, he says my liver is not something to worry about. He says mild cirrhosis, stage one or two. Fibroscan done, low score of 7.5. Bone marrow negative. All infections ruled out. Coombs negative. Hematologist recommends I get my spleen out if this anemia does not get better. Retic. count 12, LD runs in the high 600's, sine september, 2015. Hbg 8,hct 28- up from 6.9 and 23, initially. Taking B12 and folate. Initially treated with prednisone 60mg/day, all other meds stopped x one month with no improvement of anemia. Now on Medrol 12mg, Cellcept 1500mg BID, Plaquinil 400mg daily since Nov.1. Rheumatologist feels this is auto immune, not sure exanctly what, somewhere between lupus and vasculitis. Double strand DNA negative, ANCA +( 1.1) (MPO antibodiy + ) and says I need to wait a little while longer for the cellcept to work. Does not recommend removal of spleen. My symptoms are improving as far as the dyspnea but my question is why do I feel dyspenic after II eat. I also feel my heart beating a little faster and definitely pounding harder. I also experience headaches and I I can only tolerated eating small amounts of light foods at one time. I feel like the hemolysis that occurs happens with digestion and that makes me wonder if the problem is my digestive organs instead of an autoimmune process. Possible primary billiary cholangitis which I read can be ANCA positive? Thanks
Wed, 6 Jan 2016
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Hi, I Was Diagnosed With MPA/GPA Vasculitis In 2014-treated With