Myelofibrosis causes
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Myelofibrosis Microchapters |
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Myelofibrosis causes On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Myelofibrosis causes |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Causes
- Bone marrow is the soft, fatty tissue inside your bones. Stem cells are immature cells in the bone marrow that give rise to all of your blood cells. Your blood is made of:
- Red blood cells (which carry oxygen to your tissues)
- White blood cells (which fight infection)
- Platelets (which help your blood clot)
- Scarring of the bone marrow means the marrow is not able to make enough blood cells. Anemia, bleeding problems, and a higher risk of infections may occur.
- As a result, the liver and spleen try to make some of these blood cells. This causes these organs to swell, which is called extramedullary hematopoiesis.
- The cause of myelofibrosis is unknown. There are no known risk factors. The disorder usually develops slowly in people over age 50.
- Diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma may also cause bone marrow scarring. This is called secondary myelofibrosis.