Pancytopenia is the medical term for a reduction in the number of all three major types of blood cells: erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells), and platelets. It is not a disease itself but a laboratory finding that indicates a serious underlying problem in the bone marrow or peripheral destruction. The causes are varied and include: 1) Bone marrow failure (e.g., Aplastic Anemia), 2) Bone marrow infiltration (e.g., leukemia, lymphoma, metastatic cancer), 3) Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), 4) Severe vitamin deficiencies (B12, folate), 5) Overwhelming infections, 6) Hypersplenism, and 7) Certain drugs or toxins. A patient with pancytopenia may present with symptoms of anemia (fatigue), neutropenia (infections), and thrombocytopenia (bleeding/bruising). A bone marrow biopsy is often required to determine the exact cause.

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Zambia

• Joseph Soko – 101 pts

• Visual Pathway Lesions
• Positive and Negative Symptoms
• Hallucinations and Delusions
• Antipsychotic Medications
• Emergency: Environmental Emergencies