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Suggest Treatment For Blood Clot In Brain

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Posted on Mon, 22 Dec 2014
Question: my 18 yr old son was diagnosed with a blood clot in his brain. Diagnosed with polysythemia at age 12. All genetic testing negative. On blood thinner for past 6 months. No neurological damage or vascular issues. He was told he will never be able to play hockey again. I really need insight and suggestions for management
doctor
Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Phlebotomy, aspirin and chemotherapy are mainstay.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.
Polycythemia vera leads to high cellulatity and thickning of blood. This will lead to high chance of thrombosis and vascular events.
Phlebotomy is the simple and highly effective treatment. He should go for regular phlebotomy to maintain his haematocrit level near 45%.
He has high chance of blood clotting so he should take aspirin to prevent that.
Chemotherapy is also useful in polycythemia vera. Hydroxyurea is commonly used drug. He can start with low dose and depending on tolerance he can increase the dose. Busulphan or interferon are the alternative drugs.
This all drugs are prescription based medicine so he should consult his treating haematologist and take treatment accordingly.
Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer you again.
Thanks for using health care magic.
Wish you a very good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (4 hours later)
Thank you. He has been for lobotomized since he was 12. In fact his hematocrit and hemoglobin work with in the range that hematologist wanted it to be in when he had the blood clot. His iron is incredibly low. In fact they thought that maybe the low iron was the cause of the blood clot.do you think that with no genetic answers to the high red blood cells, could there be another reason for the high red blood cells that we are missing. He has been completely checked and nothing is showing.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Low iron does not lead to blood clot.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear.
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.
His low iron doesn't lead to blood clot.
If his haematocrit is normal then its very good.
In rare case no genetic mutation can identified. We cannot rule out polycythemia vera on that basis. However he should also search for any secondary causes of polycythemia.
Secondary polycythemia occurs due to high erythropoietin secretion. It may be due to any causes that leads to hypoxia. Erythropoietin secreting tumour can cause high rbc count. So rule out all secondary causes and if no any causes are found then just treat as primary polycythemia.
Phlebotomy and aspirin remain key factors in management.
Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer you again.
Thanks for using health care magic.
Wish you a very good health.
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
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Answered by
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Dr. Hardik Sanghvi

Hematologist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 7043 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Blood Clot In Brain

Brief Answer: Phlebotomy, aspirin and chemotherapy are mainstay. Detailed Answer: Hi, dear I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern. Polycythemia vera leads to high cellulatity and thickning of blood. This will lead to high chance of thrombosis and vascular events. Phlebotomy is the simple and highly effective treatment. He should go for regular phlebotomy to maintain his haematocrit level near 45%. He has high chance of blood clotting so he should take aspirin to prevent that. Chemotherapy is also useful in polycythemia vera. Hydroxyurea is commonly used drug. He can start with low dose and depending on tolerance he can increase the dose. Busulphan or interferon are the alternative drugs. This all drugs are prescription based medicine so he should consult his treating haematologist and take treatment accordingly. Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer you again. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.