Bone marrow suppression; Hypoplastic anemia

Question 1

What is bone marrow suppression?

Answer 1

Suppression of production of cells from the bone marrow, including RBC, WBC, and thrombocytes.

Question 2

What characterizes anemias due to underproduction?

Answer 2

Decreased production of RBCs by bone marrow; characterized by low corrected reticulocyte count.

Question 3

What are the etiologies of anemia due to underproduction?

Answer 3

• Causes of microcytic and macrocytic anemia
• Renal failure: decreased production of Erythropoietin by peritubular interstitial cells
• Damage to bone marrow precursor cells

Question 4

What is hypoplastic/aplastic anemia?

Answer 4

Damage to hematopoietic stem cells, resulting in pancytopenia with low reticulocyte count.

Question 5

What are the etiologies of hypoplastic/aplastic anemia?

Answer 5

• Drugs or chemicals
• Viral infections
• Autoimmune damage

Question 6

What does a biopsy reveal in cases of aplastic anemia?

Answer 6

An empty, fatty marrow.

Question 7

What symptoms are associated with low RBC count in anemia?

Answer 7

-Low RBCs (Anemia) may lead to malaise (discomfort), pallor (pale) and associated symptoms.
- Low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) - increased risk of hemorrhage, bruising and petechiae (red spot).
-Low white blood cell counts (leukocytopenia) - increased risk of infections

Question 8

What symptoms are associated with low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia)?

Answer 8

• Increased risk of hemorrhage
• Bruising
• Petechiae (red spots)

Question 9

What symptoms are associated with low white blood cell counts (leukocytopenia)?

Answer 9

Increased risk of infections, which can be severe.

Question 10

What are the laboratory findings in aplastic anemia?

Answer 10

• Low/normal Hb
• Normal MCV
• Normal MCH
• Normal MCHC
• High/normal Fe

Question 11

What is the treatment for aplastic anemia?

Answer 11

• Stopping causative drugs
• Supportive care with transfusions
• Marrow-stimulating factors (e.g., erythropoietin, GM-CSF, G-CSF)
• Immunosuppression in idiopathic cases
• Bone marrow transplantation as a last resort

Question 12

What is an example of aplastic anemia?

Answer 12

Fanconi anemia.

Question 13

What is Fanconi anemia?

Answer 13

An Autosomal Recessive inherited disease due to defect in DNA repair.

Question 14

What is myelophthisic anemia?

Answer 14

A type of anemia where there is displacement of hemopoietic bone-marrow tissue by fibrosis, tumors, or granulomas.

Question 15

What is the result of myelophthisic anemia?

Answer 15

Impaired hematopoiesis resulting in pancytopenia.