Leukophoresis - a Procedure for Leukemia Patients

Our initiation to leukophoresis came when my husband, Fonsie, was first diagnosed last year with Chronic Myelogenic Leukemia, his oncologist, Dr. Shih, put him in St. Tomas hospital right away. His white blood cell count was 500,000 and his spleen was enlarged. Dr. Shih was very upbeat about attacking this right away. The word "Terminal" was never mentioned. He only said we need to treat this right away. In the hospital he ordered a process called Leukophoresis. For those who do not know about this process, it is a way to remove the white blood cells only from your blood fast.

The Nephrologist (kidney doc) put a port (large IV) in the brachial artery in his thigh and a return IV to his arm. He initially received a transfusion of good blood and then from there he spent 4 hours hooked to a machine resembling a dialysis machine. During this process his blood was drawn out of him, sent through this machine where his white blood cells were removed from his blood leaving the red cells and plasma. This remaining (cleaned) blood was then returned to his body through a tube to an IV in his arm.

St. Thomas performed Leukophoresis on him for 2 days and at the end of this process, his white blood cell count was cut in half and his spleen went down. This process is relatively new and an excellent way to get better quickly for people with Leukemia. After this combined with Gleevec 400 mg once daily, his white blood cell count was 65,000 by his next oncology visit. I was impressed and this was the start of recovery for my husband. Within 2 months, his bone marrow biopsy revealed that he was in blood remission.

We now have a year to get him into PCU or cellular remission. This is where no Leukemia at all can be detected in the cells. From there perhaps a mini bone marrow transplant which is the cure. We take life one day at a time.

Thanks to all the nurses and doctors who worked with him and thanks to whoever thought of this process. We are eternally grateful.

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