Selina M. Luger, MD Last Modified: May 12, 2002 Dear OncoLink
"Ask The Experts," My friend was diagnosed last night with
Pancytopenia. Can you explain this condition please? Selina M.
Luger, MD, Director of the Leukemia Program and Assistant
Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania,
responds: Pancytopenia means that the blood counts are low.
Normally there are three different types of blood cells that are
made. There are red blood cells, white blood cells and
platelets. When someone has low platelets that is called
thrombocytopenia, low red blood cells--anemia, and low white
blood cells leukopenia or neutropenia. If all of the normal
blood counts are low that is called pancytopenia. Once someone
has been found to be pancytopenic, we try to figure out why.
Leukemia is one of the reasons that a person can be
pancytopenic. This diagnosis is usually made if leukemic cells
are seen in the blood or in the bone marrow (the organ that is
responsible for normal blood cell development). Other causes can