Causes of Pancytopenia
| Mechanism of pancytopenia | Causative diseases* |
|---|---|
| Reduced synthesis (bone marrow failure) | Chemo/radiotherapy Marrow infiltration due to non-haematological malignancy Haematological malignancy Megaloblastic anaemia Panhypopituitarism Idiopathic aplastic anaemia |
| Increased destruction | Splenic sequestration (e.g. due to splenomegaly of any aetiology) Drug-induced immune destruction Haemophagocytic syndrome/macrophage activating syndrome |
| Complex pathology | HIV infection Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria Systemic immune disorders (e.g. SLE) Storage disorders |
* See Table 101.5 for clues from the blood film.