What is aplastic/hypoplastic anaemia?
Hypocellular bone marrow with pancytopenia (simultaneous presence of anaemia +
leucopenia + thrombocytopenia) is aplastic anaemia. It is diagnosed by:
Presence of precipitating factor: Drugs (e.g., chloramphenicol), chemicals, radiation,
congenital.
Features of anaemia: Easy tiredness, vertigo, black-out, exertional dyspnoea, palpitations.
Features of leucopenia: Fever with chill and rigor, sore throat (i.e., pain in the throat),
features of depressed immunity (i.e., enhanced chance of infection).
Features of thrombocytopenia: Bleeding manifestations into skin and mucous membrane
like petechiae, purpura, ecchymosis; epistaxis and gum bleeding.
NB: Pancytopenia may be due to: Bone marrow failure, aplastic anaemia, bone marrow
infiltration (e.g., carcinoma, multiple myeloma, acute leukaemias), ineffective
haematopoiesis (e.g., megaloblastic anaemia) and peripheral destruction (e.g.,
hypersplenism).
Spleen is never enlarged in aplastic anaemia.
Hypocellular bone marrow with pancytopenia (simultaneous presence of anaemia +
leucopenia + thrombocytopenia) is aplastic anaemia. It is diagnosed by:
Presence of precipitating factor: Drugs (e.g., chloramphenicol), chemicals, radiation,
congenital.
Features of anaemia: Easy tiredness, vertigo, black-out, exertional dyspnoea, palpitations.
Features of leucopenia: Fever with chill and rigor, sore throat (i.e., pain in the throat),
features of depressed immunity (i.e., enhanced chance of infection).
Features of thrombocytopenia: Bleeding manifestations into skin and mucous membrane
like petechiae, purpura, ecchymosis; epistaxis and gum bleeding.
NB: Pancytopenia may be due to: Bone marrow failure, aplastic anaemia, bone marrow
infiltration (e.g., carcinoma, multiple myeloma, acute leukaemias), ineffective
haematopoiesis (e.g., megaloblastic anaemia) and peripheral destruction (e.g.,
hypersplenism).
Spleen is never enlarged in aplastic anaemia.