Aplastic Anaemia Flashcards
what is aplastic anaemia?
pancytopenia with a hypocellular marrow (and no abnormal cells suggestive of an alernative e.g. leukaemia)
how is aplastic anaemia diagnosed?
at least 2 of the following:
* anaemia - haemoglobin <10 g/dL
* thrombocytopenia - platelets <50 x109/L
* neutropenia - neutrophil count <1.5 x109/L
what are the acquried causes of aplastic anaemia?
- drug exposure - NSAIDs, chloramphenicol
- infection - hepatitis, scarlet fever
- paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
what are the inherited causes of aplastic anaemia?
- fanconi’s anaemia
- dyskeratosis congenita
what are the clinical features of aplastic anaemia?
- fatigue
- pallor
- infection
- easy bruising/bleeding
what is fanconi’s anaemia?
autosomal recessive condition
what are the features of fanconi’s anaemia?
- pigmentation abnormalities
- hearing defects
- renal abnormalities
- genital abnormalities
- solid tumours
- short stature
what is dyskeratosis congenita?
x-linked condition
what are the features of dyskeratosis congenita?
- nail malformations
- oral leukoplakia
- reticulated skin rash
what type of anaemia is aplastic anaemia?
normocytic anaemia with reduced reticulocyte count
how is aplastic anaemia confirmed?
bone marrow biopsy
bone marrow fails to product blood cells of all lineages (pancytopenia)
