Aplastic anemia laboratory findings
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Editor-In-Chief: Aric Hall, M.D., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA [1]
Overview
Patients with aplastic anemia have a hypoplastic bone marrow (<20% cellularity), pancytopenia (transfusion-dependent anemia, thrombocytopenia, and severe neutropenia), a low reticulocyte count, and with normal maturation of all cell lines. In approximately 50% of cases of aplastic anemia, there is no obvious cause; chemicals, drugs, viral infections, collagen vascular diseases, and thymoma can be implicated in the remaining cases. Interferon-activated T lymphocytes are involved in autoimmune destruction of stem cells in a significant proportion of patients with the idiopathic or the acquired form of the disease; this fact explains why immunosuppressive therapy is effective in some patients. Initial management involves withdrawal of any potentially causative agents and a CT scan of the chest to rule out an associated thymoma.
Laboratory Findings
Electrolyte and Biomarker Studies
- Full blood count
- Renal function
- Electrolytes
- Liver enzymes
- Thyroid function tests
- vitamin B12 and folic acid levels.