Evaluation of pancytopenia

Pancytopenia is a reduction in the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the peripheral blood below the lower limits of the age-adjusted normal range for healthy people. It is therefore the combination of anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia.

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

The diagnosis of pancytopenia is made from the results of an automated complete blood count and examination of the peripheral smear but, as the etiology of pancytopenia varies significantly, a detailed diagnostic evaluation is required in every instance.

Differentials

Common

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Uncommon

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Contributors

Authors

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Jeffrey M. Lipton, MD, PhD

Frances and Thomas Gambino Professor of Pediatrics in Hematology/Oncology

Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Medicine

Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Professor, The Center for Autoimmune Musculoskeletal and Hematopoietic Diseases

Feinstein Institute for Medical Research

Director, Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation

Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York

Disclosures

JML has been reimbursed by Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A as a consultant.

Acknowledgements

Dr Jeffrey M. Lipton would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Jeff K. Davies and Dr Eva C. Guinan, the previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

JKD and ECG declare that they have no competing interests.