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Review
. 2024 Sep;24(5):100235.
doi: 10.1016/j.clinme.2024.100235. Epub 2024 Aug 17.

Approach to pancytopenia: From blood tests to the bedside

Shaun Chew  1 , Majeed Kamangar  2
Affiliations
Review

Approach to pancytopenia: From blood tests to the bedside

Shaun Chew et al. Clin Med (Lond). 2024 Sep.

Abstract

Pancytopenia is an uncommon abnormality detected on a full blood count. Features of presentation tend to be non-specific, and are due to impaired functions of the cell lines involved. These can include fatigue, infection and bleeding. However, the aetiology of pancytopenia is extensive. This narrative review aims to provide a minimally invasive diagnostic algorithm for generalist clinicians to approach pancytopenia, including investigations into the underlying aetiology, and when a referral to the haematologist is warranted for further investigations such as bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy.

Keywords: Anaemia; Haematology; Neutropenia; Pancytopenia; Thrombocytopenia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Algorithm for approaching pancytopenia. ANA: anti-nuclear antibody, ANC: absolute neutrophil count, AST: aspartate aminotransferase, CMV: cytomegalovirus, CT: computed tomography, DAT: direct antiglobulin test, EBV: Epstein–Barr virus, Hb: haemoglobin, HIV: human immunodeficiency virus, LDH: lactate dehydrogenase, PET: positron emission tomography, SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus, US: ultrasound, WCC: white cell count.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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