Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Low WBC

Caspiana
Caspiana
Hello. I have had RA for 3 years. I am currently doing really well with no swelling or pain. I am on MTX and Enbrel. I used to come here alot but I haven't been here for awhile.

I need some advice. My white blood cell count has been decreasing since May. Last month it came up as low. (3.9) My doctor said maybe it's because my RA is under control but somehow that doesn't seem right to me. He said he will wait till next month's blood work to see how to proceed. Has anyone ever had this? Do you think taking MTX might be a factor? Any information is most welcome. Thank you in advance.
deleted_user
deleted_user
My RA went into remission on Enbrel and I eventually was able to get off of it! It very well could be that your RA is under control.
Angelpuss
Angelpuss
Caspiana, it's so good to see that you are doing well. I, too, have low WBC and have had since starting on MTX almost three years ago. My Rheumy sent me to a haematologist to check it out in case something else was causing the low count. After blood tests and a spleen ultrasound he decided it was caused by the MTX treatment, which is not uncommon. 3.9 is pretty close to normal -( 4.0 - 11.0) but I can understand that you are worried. Mine varies, the lowest being 2.9, usually somewhere in 3.?? and occasionally it has crept above 4.0. I see the Haemotologist every 5-6 months. If I start to get a lot of infections he has told me to ring him and he will prescribe pills or injections to raise the white cell count - so far, that hasn't been necessary.
However, it should always be checked out by a doctor in case there is a different cause.
Good luck
Caspiana
Caspiana
Thank you Xanadu and Angelpuss. Xanadu, I am really happy that you are off the enbrel. My doc has actually said maybe we can start to cut down on it and hopefully taper off of it. I am excited at that prospect as well as worried...a little,

Angelpuss, thanks for your feedback. It made me feel slightly less panicky. Thank you both once again.
Caspiana
Caspiana
Thank you Jenny :)) I really appreciate you help.
altoclef
altoclef
Jenny, if you come up with that, I'd love to know about it, too. My WBC has been low for at least three years. It came up after starting treatment this spring, but has now gone back down to 3.2. My PCP is freaking out, but my rheumatologist doesn't seem too wrecked about it. I'm not sure how low is "too low."
altoclef
altoclef
Conferring with Dr. Google, it looks like Jenny is referring to Felty's Syndrome, which is a lovely combination of RA, an enlarged spleen, and low white count. sounds like it hits a small # of people with RA, often (but not always) years after the initial diagnosis.