Pancytopaenia Flashcards
pancytopenia definition
deficiency of blood cells from ALL lineages ie RBCs, neutrophils and platelets
main cause of pancytopaenia
bone marrow failure
causes of pancytopaenia other than bone marrow failure (2)
hypersplenism
sepsis
inherited bone marrow failure
fanconis anaemia
how do children with fanconis anaemia present
short stature
skin pigment abnormalities
cancer - leukaemia
cure of fanconis anaemia
bone marrow transplant
acquired bone marrow failure
idiopathic aplastic anaemia myelodysplasia acute myeloid leukaemia alcohol macrocytic anaemia - eg B12/folate deficiency, drugs eg methotrexate for RA
what kind of condition is idiopathic aplastic anaemia
autoimmune
where do the autoimmune cells target in idiopathic aplastic anaemia
myeloid stem cells = affect the myeloid precursor cells = decreased production of RBCs, platelets and neutorphils
what is myelodysplasia and why does it cause pancytopaenia
what does the bone marrow do to compensate
when the bone marrow produces dysplastic cells = aren’t functional
so tries to make more in response to pancytopaenia = but theyre still dysplastic and don’t work = hypercellular bone marrow
pancytopenia with hypercellular bone marrow
myelodysplasia
B12/folate deficiency
hypersplenism
how does hypersplenism cause pancytopaenia
hypersplenism = increased blood pool in spleen = lots of RBC destruction
bone marrow cant keep up = pancytopaenia
presentation of pancytopaenia
which symptom comes first
fatigue - from anaemia
infections - from neutropaenia
bleeding - form thrombocytopaenia
infections occur first bc life span of neutrophils is only 8 hours
pancytopenia with hypocellular bone marrow
aplastic anaemia
management of pancytopaenia
blood transfusion if symptomatic anaemia
platelet transfusion if symptomatic thrombocytopaenmia
antibiotics for neutropaenia (prophylaxis - give everyone)
