Key Takeaways
✅ Pancytopenia is the simultaneous reduction in all three blood cell lines.
✅ Pancytopenia is not a disease but rather is a manifestation of one or more underlying diseases.
✅ Pancytopenia may be classified as:
- Congenital or acquired
- Transient or chronic
- Mild, moderate or severe
✅ A mechanistic approach to pancytopenia includes the following considerations:
- Bone marrow underproduction
- Bone marrow infiltration
- Periphearl destruction
- Sequestration
✅ Some causes of pancytopenia are mediated by more than one mechanism.
✅ Diagnosis is confirmed with a complete blood count.
✅ The peripheral smear may provide important clues about the underlying diagnosis.
✅ Many, but not all patients will require a b one marrow biopsy
✅ Treatment is directed towards the cytopenia and the underlying cause