Pancytopenia Flashcards
what is pancytopenia?
a deficiency of blood cells of all lineages (red cells, platelets and white cells)
what are three causes of acquired bone marrow failure?
idiopathic aplastic anaemia
myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
acute leukaemia
what happens in aplastic anaemia?
auto-reactive T cells attack HSCs, resulting in haemopoiesis stopping in the bone marrow
what cytokines are involved in aplastic anaemia?
INF-Y
TNF-a
how is aplastic anaemia diagnosed?
a diagnosis of exclusion
what is seen on histology in aplastic anaemia?
excess fat spaces
lack of haematopoietic cells
what is myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)?
a group of causes of bone marrow failure resulting in cytopenias
what is the hallmark of MDS?
dysplasia
what can MDS evolve into?
AML
what are some causes of secondary bone marrow failure?
drugs
B12/folate
infiltrative disease
viruses
name some drugs that can cause secondary bone marrow failure
chemo alcohol azathioprine methotrexate chloramphenicol
what is an example of an inherited syndrome causing pancytopenia due to reduced production?
fanconi’s anaemia
how does fanconi’s anaemia present?
short stature
skin pigment abnormalities
hypogenitalia
GI problems
what haematological changes are seen in fanconi’s anaemia?
macrocytosis then thrombocytopenia then neutropenia
what are the haematological risks associated with fanconi’s anaemia?
bone marrow failure
AML
