[Nanjeanne]

High neutrophils, low lymphocytes on Darzalex & Pomalyst

by Nanjeanne on Fri Dec 21, 2018 1:32 pm

My husband had his first relapse and it caused a compression fracture in his spine and difficulty walking because of many lesions. He also had pain in the hip pelvis area. His numbers didn’t reflect the aggressive relapse until the very month his pain and walking were affected.

In mid November he started Darzalex infusions and 2 mg Pomalyst. He is also currently undergoing radiation (finished #7 of 10).

The treatment appears to be working well. His M-spike is down (will test again next week) and his kappa serum free light chain level is in the normal range. And his pain is diminishing.

But we have noticed the last few weekly CBCs have shown a significant jump in the neutrophil level and a decrease in the lymphocyte and monocyte levels. The most recent CBC was really telling.

Measurement Nov 28 Dec 06 Dec 13 Dec 19
Lymphocytes 2.5 3.0 5.1 1.1
Monocytes 5.8 10 8.1 1.9
Neutrophils 86% --- 83% 95.6%

We will be asking his doctor about this when we see her after the holiday, but I'm wondering if this is something unusual with Pomalyst and Darzalex, or if it happens often, and what it means as we go forward.