Actually mine is high right now my Doc said that over the weekend if i see any sign of infection to go straight to the ER.He did say that a lower count is what they should have seen.

I had a precipitous drop in WBC (and other blood counts), not from MTX, but from Remicade. In my case, it was due to bone marrow suppression from the drug. It is an uncommon side effect from chemotherapy drugs, which MTX and other RA drugs are, but it is a real concern.

I had 2 episodes where my WBC dropped very low. After the first, my doctor stopped all drugs (Remicade and Arava), and ordered a bone marrow biopsy, to rule out bone cancer. I restarted Remicade and a month later, had another episode, this time with a high fever (39.9 C). My WBC dropped to 0.5, and I was admitted to hospital, given potent antibiotics and a drug called neupogen, to boost neutrophil production.

Is your doctor watching this closely, as in requesting frequent blood counts? If you get a fever, or infection, or some other unusual event, seek help right away. When your WBC count, significantly neutrophil, goes low, your immune response is greatly compromised.

WBC count can fluctuate, based on a number of factors, and hopefully that's all that's going on, but take this very seriously.

Best wishes,
doug

Hi Doug,
Thanks so much for that information. My Rheumatologist is keeping a good eye on it and I am having regular blood tests. He wasn't happy with the last count and is waiting for the next blood tests (next week) to see if it stays low or is even lower.
As Winter has come in with a really cold spell here, I shall head to my GP straight away if I get a cold, fever etc as per your advice.
Hope you keep on keeping well.
Angel

Thanks, Tonya, for your answer. Maybe too high or too low can both be a problem.
I hope it settles down for you
Angel

I have experienced this also. My WBC has progressively been lowering for a year now. Also my hemaglobin RBC is low. So my rheumy told me I have to phone her if I have any signs of infections at all. She believes it is being caused by the Methotrexate. We lowered the amount for a bit but after only 2 weeks or so I was in a lot of pain again. So we bumped it back up.
It sounds like they are keeping an eye on it for you so I hope you are okay.

Thanks, Min, for your answer. It sure is a Catch 22, isn't it? A drug can be working for the RA but affects something else. As we're just starting Winter here and I sometimes work with little children, the thought of colds and 'flu is a quite a concern.
I hope you manage to stay well.

Hi

I too had problems with low WBC. On Enbrel as well as Methtrx. I'm awaiting a different med. Possibily Orencia

Thanks for your answer, Judy and good luck with the new med.

Just an update. I had blood tests last Friday which showed that the WBC count had come up a little, which was good.
However, all the Rheumatoid levels had shot sky high and I'm now in a flare affecting almost every part of my body - just when I thought I was doing OK.
Hope everyone else is having a better weekend than me!!!