pancytopenia

Question 1

myelodysplastic syndromes

Answer 1

group of disorders with genetic mutations in haematopoietic stem cells -
- ineffective haematopoiesis
- peripheral blood cytopenias
- risk of progression to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)

older adults, 70-75y/o

Question 2

secondary cause of myelodyplastic disorder

Answer 2

5 years after chemo ro radiotherapy !!! **

Question 3

pancytopenia 5 years after chemo or radiotherapy

Answer 3

myelodysplastic syndrome

Question 4

diagnosing myelodysplastic syndrome

Answer 4

FBC abnormal
blasts on blood film

bone marrow biopsy = definitive

Question 5

bone marrow in myelodysplastic vs aplastic anaemia

Answer 5

aplastic
- hypOcellular (empty or fatty) - very few cells present
- overall reduced

myelodysplastic
- hypERcellular - but cells are abnormal (dysplastic)
- dysplastic so can be full

Question 6

what is aplastic anaemia characterised by

Answer 6

pancytopenia + hypoplastic bone marrow

Question 7

peak incidence aplastic anaemia is acquired

Answer 7

30yrs old

Question 8

type of anaemia in aplastic anaemia (micro/macro)

Answer 8

normochromic, normocytic anaemia

Question 9

causes of aplastic anaemia

Answer 9

idiopathic
congenital - Fanconis
drugs
toxics - benzene
infections - parovirus, hepatitis
radiation

Question 10

drugs causing aplastic anaemia

Answer 10

cytotoxics
chloramphenicol
sulphonamides
phenytoin
gold

Question 11

drug causes of pancytopenia

Answer 11

cytotoxics
antibiotics - trimethoprim, chloramphenicol
gold, penicillamine
carbimazole

carbamazepine
sulphonylureas - tolbutamide