Amy, I have not used epogen for a CRF or FeLV kitty though I have had both with anemia.
There is a Yahoo Anemia group that may be able to answer some of your questions about the risks of using epogen or Darbepoetin. http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feline_Anemia/ I used vitamins and supplements (B12, Super B Complex and Folic Acid) to manage chronic anemia. I do agree that if the kidneys are producing erythropoietin but the bone marrow is not responding then giving epogen shots would not be beneficial. I have not heard it called nonregenative anemia when the kidneys are producing erythropoietin. Sharyl --- On Wed, 3/17/10, Amy <awilkin...@yahoo.com> wrote: > From: Amy <awilkin...@yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Epogen? Interfuron? > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Date: Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 9:00 AM > Hi Belinda, > > I do know Bailey's story well and honestly you are one of > the only stories I've heard with positive results (not to > say there aren't a lot more good ones out there, that's why > I'm asking). Your story keeps me wondering if I should > try it despite the warnings. I'm so glad you had these > results with Epogen. I actually had the vet research > WHY it could possibly help a leuk positive cat because of > your story. I can't find one vet that can explain why > it could possibly help since a leuk positive cat is normally > making erythropoietin just fine on it's own. That's > not to say it has never helped. She has heard of cases > but said there is no biological/medical reason it should > help . Does anybody know how or why it might help a > cat with nonregenerative anemia? > > I just want to say that the vet that told me this is most > likely not flat out lying. She is a highly recommended > internal med from Cornell University. She has been > absolutely wonderful and has researched everything I've > asked her about extensively. When I asked her about > Epogen she didn't have to research it because she did have > experience with it, with cats with CRF and cats > without. I did A LOT of searching of all the medical > facilities within hundreds of miles to find a specialist > that actually deals with leukemia and treats cats with it > regularly. Many vets in my area have never even seen a > positive cat other than the ones they euthanize. I've > lost one cat after another to leukemia and despite trying > one thing after another, have never been able to bring one > back from nonregenerative anemia. My cat that is > currently being treated by Cornell is stable and holding his > own 6 months after being diagnosed. I don't believe > that would be the case > without her help. I totally understand people on > here feeling that most vets know nothing about leukemia but > I just wanted to say that I spent A LOT of time and effort > trying to locate a vet that would do the best possible job > for this cat and it stings a bit to hear somebody say she is > flat out lying to me or doesn't know how to use > Epogen. Anyways, I don't post on here a lot and was > nervous about saying anything about my fears of Epogen > because I thought it might ruffle some feathers. I > just couldn't at least throw it out there because I > personally would feel awful if I did something to speed up > how quickly this disease can take down a positive cat. > I really think each person needs to do what they are > comfortable with and I just wanted to throw out what I heard > on the off chance it is accurate. > > I'd love to hear from others that have tried Epogen too. > > Amy > > --- On Wed, 3/17/10, Belinda Sauro <ma...@bemikitties.com> > wrote: > > > From: Belinda Sauro <ma...@bemikitties.com> > > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Epogen? Interfuron? > > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > > Date: Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 12:58 AM > > Amy, > > This vet is either flat out lying or isn't using > it > > correctly. > > > > It is very rare but a cat can have a reaction and > that > > reaction is that it wouldn't help and the HCT would > continue > > to go down, in some cases this is because the dose > isn't > > high enough, a few kitties need higher than the > standard > > dose. But of course the vets freak out and assume > the > > cat is having a reaction. So many vets are > terrified > > of this drug and it doesn't make sense, basically if > it > > isn't working you would be right back where you > started. > > It is documented that about 10% to 30% of cats would > fall > > into this category and of those it takes 5 months or > longer > > of use for this to happen. > > > > I know many, many people who have used it and only > know of > > one cat that is was suspected had this happen and I > honestly > > don't think that was the problem, I think that cat > wasn't > > getting a high enough dose. Most of these cats are > CRF > > but a few aren't and were anemic because of cancer or > > something else. > > > > I've told Bailey's story more than once, he was > positive, > > he became anemic and once his HCT got to 20%, I > decided to > > try epogen, I think he was barely regenerative but > honestly > > it has been so long I can't remember. He did not > have > > kidney disease. > > > > By the time we got the epogen in it took a few days, > he had > > gone to 18% and once we started it went down to 15%, > it took > > about 6 weeks to get his HCT to 40% which is a little > > quicker than you would like but he was fine and his > HCT was > > still normal at 33%, 34% 5 months later when he died > of > > pancreatic cancer. > > > > You do have to monitor the blood pressure because it > can go > > high, Bailey's did the opposite and got low but we had > no > > problems with the epogen. > > > > My vet has used it several times with FeLV+ cats and > had > > luck with it. > > > > -- > > Belinda > > happiness is being owned by cats ... > > > > http://bemikitties.com > > > > http://BelindaSauro.com > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Felvtalk mailing list > > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
