Pancytopaenia

Question 1

Definition of pancytopaenia

Answer 1

• reduction in all cell lines
• red cells, white cells and platelets
• production problems (in bone marrow) or destruction problems (peripheral)

Question 2

Production (bone marrow) problems

Answer 2

• folate/B12 deficiency
• malignancy (primary bone tumour or metastasis)
• myelofibrosis
• aplastic anaemia (hypoplasia of bone marrow)
• viruses e.g. HIV
• drug-induced myelosuppression e.g. chemotherapy

Question 3

Destruction (peripheral) problems

Answer 3

• immune destruction e.g. SLE
• disseminated IV coagulation
• sepsis
• splenomegaly
• microangiopathy
• drugs

Question 4

Presentation

Answer 4

• fatigue
• breathlessness
• chest pain (anaemia)
• recurrent infections (neutropenia)
• bruising
• bleeding
• petechiae