Pancytopenia Flashcards
Define pancytopenia
Deficiency of blood cells of all lineages (excludes lymphocytes)
Pancytopenia can include either reduced production or increased destruction. Give examples of reduced production
Acquired (primary and secondary) bone marrow failure
Inherited syndrome
Characteristics of inherited marrow failure syndrome
Arise due to defects in DNA repair/ribsosomes/telomeres
What is an example of an inherited bone marrow failure
Fanconi’s anaemia
Short stature
Skin pigment abnormalities
Radial ray abnormalities
Café au lait spots
Hypogenitilia
Endocrine, GI, CVD, renal and haem abnormalities
Fanconi’s anaemia
Pathophysiology of inherited bone marrow failure
Unable to correct inter-strand cross-links (DNA damage)
Consists of macrocytosis followed by thrombocytopenia, then neutropenia
Mode of transmission of Fanconi anaemia
Autosomal recessive
Fanconi anaemia imposes an increased risk of..
Acute myeloid leukaemia
Haematological problems seen in Fanconi anaemia
Aplastic anaemia
Give examples of acquired primary bone marrow failure
Idiopathic aplastic anaemia
Myelodysplastic syndromes
Acute leukaemia
Aplastic anaemia is characterised by..
Pancytopenia and a hypoplastic bone marrow
Normochromic, normocytic anaemia
Leukopenia, with lymphocytes relatively spared thrombocytopenia
Aplastic anaemia
Aplastic anaemia may be the presenting feature in..
Acute lymphoblastic or myeloid leukaemia
A minority of patients with aplastic anaemia later develop..
Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria or myelodysplasia
Causes of aplastic anaemia
Fanconi anaemia, dyskeratosis congenita
Cytotoxics, chloramphenicol, sulphonamides, phenytoin, gold
Benzene
Parvovirus, hepatitis
Radiation