Pancytopenia is a pathological condition in which the composition of all elements in the circulating blood decreases. Causes, symptoms, treatment

Any development of the disease in the body causes a change in the parameters from the peripheral blood. However, there are a number of pathologies for which such changes are the main clinical sign. Pancytopenia is one of the pathological processes of the hematopoietic system, which is defined as an independent disease or can be a concomitant manifestation of another nosological form.

General concepts

The disease is not common, so most people do not know about this phenomenon. Pancytopenia is a condition of insufficiency of all blood elements, the development of which is caused by disorders in the structure of blood cell precursors at the stage of hematopoiesis. Reduces the level of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets due to the fact that stem cells can not function adequately.

The disease develops in two forms:

• Idiopathic, caused by internal factors;
• Secondary, which is due to external influence.

The pathological condition approximately in 50% of cases develops on type autoimmune. That is, the body independently struggles with its blood cells, taking them for alien agents. An idiopathic form can occur when an additional external factor is attached, which accelerates the adverse outcome.

Pancytopenia is a disease that can be transmitted by inheritance, developing even when the baby is in the womb of the mother. A child is born with a disability of the hematopoietic organs. Congenital bone marrow hypoplasia may also be congenital, as a result of which the system does not cope with its functions.

Etiology and risk factors of the disease

Among the main causes of the development of pathology are genetic mutations, long-term use of medications, radioactive or toxic effects. Idiopathic form is characterized by the fact that the cause can not be established, however, there have been cases of the development of the disease after the child is born.

Establishing a cause is important for a favorable outcome of the disease. Elimination of external negative influence in this disease is 50% of success.

In addition to the main reasons, there are a number of factors that contribute to the development of pathology:

• Work with benzene or arsenic;
• Fanconi anemia;
• Infections of a viral nature;
• chemotherapy;
• Antibiotics and immunosuppressants;
• Autoimmune diseases, for example, lupus;
• radiation therapy.

Fanconi anemia is one of the etiological factors of pancytopenia. It develops against the background of congenital anomalies, it is considered an autosomal recessive disease. Anemia is characterized by the presence of defects in the areas of proteins responsible for the restoration of DNA, as well as the fragility of chromosomes.

Clinical picture of the disease

The pathological condition manifests itself in the form of three syndromes. Each of them is characteristic for signs of a reduction in the quantity of one type of blood cells. Leukopenia is manifested by a picture of acute sepsis and the appearance of ulcerative-necrotic processes on the part of the skin and mucous membranes.

Erythropenia and a marked decrease in hemoglobin provoke the development of symptoms of anemia. This state is characterized by:

• Pallor of the skin ;
• Flies before the eyes ;
• dizziness;
• noise in ears;
• Weakness and fatigue;
• Adynamia.

Patients complain of the appearance of dyspnea and increased heart rate. Auscultation allows you to determine the deafness of cardiac tones, systolic noise over the entire surface of the cardiac projection, the noise of the top over the jugular vein. The aggravation of the patient's condition causes the appearance of changes on the electrocardiogram, which indicate the development of heart failure.

Thrombocytopenia is manifested by frequent bleeding (nasal, gastrointestinal, uterine), bleeding gums, the appearance of petechiae and hemorrhages on the skin. Acute manifestations of the disease last for about a month and often lead to death. Chronic pancytopenia is resolved more favorably and has less severe symptoms

The course of the disease is considered very difficult. Pancytopenia, whose complications are more typical of older people, is accompanied by the appearance of infections and bleeding.

Diagnostic measures

The first case of a referral to a specialist requires an examination, a history of the patient's life and illness. Then a general blood test is assigned. If there are the following indicators, you can think about the development of pancytopenia and conduct further diagnostic activities:

• Leukocytes <2 x 109 / l;
• Platelets <150 x 109 / L;
• Erythrocytes <3.5 x 109 / l.

A bone marrow puncture study is performed, which determines the presence of abnormal cells and myelocaryocytes. The presence of anomalies, including bone marrow hypoplasia, is determined. Also hemolytic tests are carried out.

Treatment of pancytopenia

The therapeutic stages depend on the clinical case, the patient's condition and the etiological factor that caused the illness. The following treatments can be used:

• Blood transfusion to balance the balance of the formed elements.
• Bone marrow transplantation or stem cells. More often it is spent to patients of young and middle age.
• In the case of autoimmune pancytopenia, the use of immunosuppressants is prescribed: Cytoxan, Methylprednisolone, Neoral, Sandimun.
• Means stimulating the work of the bone marrow - Neupogen, Neulasta, Prokrit, Leukin.

Medicinal Herbs

The complex therapy of the disease includes the use of phytotherapy. The level of erythrocytes and hemoglobin can be raised with berries. Vitaminized teas are made on the basis of mountain ash, black currant, wild rose, strawberry, apricot berries. Iron is rich in rutabaga, gooseberries, cherries and grapes, the use of which will allow not only to balance the balance of blood elements, but also to strengthen the immune system.

A number of folk methods for the treatment of pancytopenia include honey. It is connected with the following products:

• With red wine and aloe juice;
• Garlic;
• Oats;
• Lemon, dried apricots, raisins, prunes and walnuts.

Great importance is attached to infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs of dioecious nettle, birch, wormwood, clover, dandelion, orchis, sweet clover, buckwheat.

Conclusion

Pancytopenia is a serious illness that is equated with deadly diseases. The benefit of the outcome depends on the severity of the clinical signs, the form of development and the stage at which the treatment began. Such a disease is easier to prevent than cure.

The annual clinical examination of the population helps to identify the pathological condition at an early stage. First of all, this concerns laboratory methods of examination.