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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Low Platelet Count While On Avastin?

My friend has terminal brain cancer. I m asking because family doesn t know how to deal with their doctor & they haven t dealt w/ cancer before. Anyway, she has Glioblastoma Multiforme, is currently on Avastin. No chemo drugs for 2 months because of low platelets. She went in for her bi-weekly Avastin treatment and her platelets are still dropping. Currently at 27,000. Am I wrong to think the oncologist was completely WRONG to continue the Avastin? If it s not the Chemo causing the drop and Avastin has potential side effects that cause bleeding? Did he not just put her in great risk of hemorrhaging??? Their oncologist has to use his phone to answer some of their questions. Please help, this poor family is clueless.
Tue, 9 Oct 2018
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hi,

Dear Bevacizumab (BEV) causes minor hemorrhage, most commonly grade 1 epistaxis; serious, and in some cases fatal, hemorrhagic events.

Severe or fatal hemorrhage, including hemoptysis, gastrointestinal bleeding, hematemesis, CNS hemorrhage, epistaxis, and vaginal bleeding has been reported up to fivefold more frequent in patients receiving Bevacizumab compared to those receiving chemotherapy alone.

So frequent platelet count monitoring with emergency platelet transfusion may useful.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Penchila Prasad Kandikattu,
Internal Medicine Specialist
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What Causes Low Platelet Count While On Avastin?

Hi, Dear Bevacizumab (BEV) causes minor hemorrhage, most commonly grade 1 epistaxis; serious, and in some cases fatal, hemorrhagic events. Severe or fatal hemorrhage, including hemoptysis, gastrointestinal bleeding, hematemesis, CNS hemorrhage, epistaxis, and vaginal bleeding has been reported up to fivefold more frequent in patients receiving Bevacizumab compared to those receiving chemotherapy alone. So frequent platelet count monitoring with emergency platelet transfusion may useful. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Penchila Prasad Kandikattu, Internal Medicine Specialist