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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Will Aranesp Shot Help In Getting Hemoglobin And RBC Higher?

My father is 85 years old with low Hemoglobin & low RBC. Extreme fatigue, lethargic and weak. He's had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, swallowed a camera (to take pics) and a bone marrow test. All came back with no sign of any cancer etc. He was told bone marrow may get "lazy" with old age. He had his 1st shot of Aranesp friday? Will this likely help in getting RBC and hemogloin higher? He formerly walked 4 miles/day and did workouts 5 days/week (3 at fitness center and 2 at rehab from heart attack in 1996). Podiatrist told him to stop walking 3+ months ago due to small toe pain so I worry he's had muscles also atrophy.
Mon, 4 May 2015
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hello,

aranesp is indicated for patients with anemia and chronic kidney disease (CKD) or malignancies. Your father seems to have none of them although at his age CKD is possible. Aranesp increases the bone marrow production and may indeed help in increasing the hemoglobin and hematocrit if sufficient iron stores are present.

The reason that the official indications are the ones I've mentioned is that its utility is doubtful in other situations (like most cases of the myelodysplastic syndrome for example or anemia of frailty).

So the answer is that it may help or it may not! According to the information you've provided You'll have to judge by the results. Do not expect much though...

I hope I've helped!
Kind Regards!
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Will Aranesp Shot Help In Getting Hemoglobin And RBC Higher?

Hello, aranesp is indicated for patients with anemia and chronic kidney disease (CKD) or malignancies. Your father seems to have none of them although at his age CKD is possible. Aranesp increases the bone marrow production and may indeed help in increasing the hemoglobin and hematocrit if sufficient iron stores are present. The reason that the official indications are the ones I ve mentioned is that its utility is doubtful in other situations (like most cases of the myelodysplastic syndrome for example or anemia of frailty). So the answer is that it may help or it may not! According to the information you ve provided You ll have to judge by the results. Do not expect much though... I hope I ve helped! Kind Regards!