Causes And Risk Factors Of Pancytopenia

Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a bone marrow disorder. When there is a problem with the bone marrow, the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are affected. This condition causes cancer cells to accumulate in the bone marrow, which results in the production of abnormal cells instead of normal ones. The abnormalities cause problems and complications because the body cannot use what is being produced.

The abnormal cells can proceed to affect kidney function by causing damage to them. This condition can be the underlying condition to pancytopenia, where it is one component of the low number of cells the body is producing and using. Multiple myeloma has the opportunity to be resolved if pancytopenia is cured through the use of a bone marrow transplant. This allows the new cells to take over and begin making healthy blood cells for the body to use.

Sepsis

Sepsis is the body's response to a serious infection and can be life-threatening if not treated right away. The body releases chemicals to fight the infection. But, when a serious infection takes hold and the body's response to an infection is out of balance, the chemicals released by the body can trigger changes that will damage multiple organ systems. If the infection is not controlled, the sepsis will result in organ failures, septic shock, a dramatic blood pressure drop, and possibly death.

It can cause pancytopenia because the infection prompts the body to release defenses against the infection. But this condition causes the system to malfunction and mature blood cells are suppressed. Furthermore, this can result in permanent damage to the hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. This can cause the body to produce less of the blood cells it needs, resulting in pancytopenia. Researchers are trying to find a way to prevent this damage to the bone marrow when the body is faced with a serious infection.