Pancytopenia Flashcards
define pancytopenia
deficiency of blood cells of all lineages (generally excludes lymphocytes)
is pancytopenia a diagnosis?
no- reflects a diagnosis (does not always mean marrow failure)
pancytopenia can be caused by what two things?
reduced production
increased destruction
what are causes of reduced production?
bone marrow failure dur to inherited syndromes or acquired
what inherited syndromes cause pancytopenia?
fanconis anaemia (v rare)
- short stature/ skeletal changes
- cafe au lait spots
what are primary causes of aqcuired bone marrow failure?
idiopathic aplastic anaemia
Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
Acute leukaemia
what hapens in idiopathic aplastic anaemia?
autoimmune attakc agaisnt haemopoietic stem cells
which cause of bone marrow failure is hypercellular marrow and dysplasia seen in?
Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
what are secondary causes of acquired bone marrow failure?
drug induced (chemo, alochol)
B12/folate deficiency
metastatic cnacer (non-marrwo malignancy)
viral e.g. HIV
pancytopenia as a result of incerasde destruciton of red cells can be caused by what?
hypersplenism
list some causes of hypersplenism
splenic congestion (portal hypertension)
systemic disease (RA- feltys)
haemtological disease (splenic lymphoma)
what are the clinical features of pancytopenia?
anaemia → fatigue, SOB
neutropenia → infections
thrombocytopenia → bleeding, purpura
hypocellular marrow is seen in what?
aplastic anaemia
hypercellular marrow is seen in?
MDS
B12/folate deficiency
hypersplenism
what is the treatment fro pancytopenia?
Supportive: red cell transfusions
platelet transfusions
antibiotics (prohylaxis/treatment)
Specific treatment
