Pancytopenia

Question 1

what is pancytopenia

Answer 1

all three blood components (white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets) are deficient… combination of anaemia, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia

Question 2

what are some causes of pancytopenia

Answer 2

Pancytopenia may result from decreased production of blood cells, resulting from bone marrow failure, or immune-mediated destruction of blood cells, or non-immune-mediated sequestration in the periphery/spleen

Question 3

presenting symptoms

Answer 3

presenting symptoms of anaemia, leukopenia (immune-supressed so risk of infection) and thrombocytopenia (bleeding, bruising)

Question 4

how is pancytopenia diagnosed

Answer 4

automated full blood count and examination of the peripheral smear

Question 5

treatment

Answer 5

treatment of the cause,

relevant treatment for anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia

Question 6

common differential diagnoses to pancytopenia

Answer 6

chemotherapy, radiotherapy, B12 or folate deficiency