Imuran/Azathioprine blood film abnormalities

[gilders]

I received a letter today from my renal specialist, who's also my WG specialist, regarding some recent blood tests. As part of the Full Blood Count he requested a blood film (smear). In other words my blood was looked at under the microscope. This is done to check for parasites or abnormalities with blood cells.
The result has come back with abnormalities. He can give no further information regarding exactly what the abnormalities are, although he did mention that it could be an effect of Azathioprine. We often update each other quite informally via email. To receive a letter through the post kind of made it seem more serious:sad:
I now have yet another specialist to see (haematologist).
I was wondering if anyone else on this forum has had any abnormalities showing on their blood film/smears and if there was a connection to azathioprine.
I'll no doubt find everything out when I see the haematologist, but NHS waiting times are usually long and I when it comes to my health I like as much info as soon as possible.

The last few weeks I've seen an improvement with my current relapse and this seems like a bit of a kick in the teeth. On one hand I hope it is down to Azathioprine rather than something like sickle cell disease, but on the other hand I can't stop taking Azathioprine now that it finally seems to be knocking this relapse into remission.:unsure:

[Pete]

This could be a case of a decreasing abnormality showing a sign of improvement as you are feeling better.

[Alysia]

Dear Pete,
I've missed you :wub: long time since you wrote and I was wondering how are you....
I am glad that you are feeling better, and sorry about this blood issue :sad:
I don't know anything about it but it sounds possible that the meds are changing the film of the blood.
my CBC is never normal. for years. my GP said that it is because of the meds.
usually we don't do the test you did, so, who know how is our's test looks like :w00t:
please update us and come to visit more. prayers and hugs :hug1:

[mishb]

Pete, I wouldn't think that this is a big problem.

Why???, I hear you asking :unsure:

Because, if there was something serious going on - he would have emailed you straight away, or even phoned.

To send it via a letter means that it has come from his office and possibly not even him.
For it to be sent via normal mail, and knowing that mail takes longer to get information to someone (every man and his dog knows that emails are quicker), I wouldn't read much into it at all.

This of course, is only my opinion
- and if it does turn out to be something, then I would be really pee'd off that they didn't call to let me know straight away.:predrage: