Dorothy FarrarBone marrow failure
Bone marrow failure is a functional disorder of the bone marrow. The body loses the ability to form new blood cells. Three series of cells are required for the proper formation of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
What is bone marrow failure?
Bone marrow insufficiency is a dysfunction of the bone marrow. Sick people can no longer produce enough blood cells. Depending on which blood cells can no longer be formed, the doctor speaks of erythro-, granulo- or thrombocytopoiesis. If all three are missing, he speaks of pancytopenia. This is the rule in the case of bone marrow insufficiency. Bone marrow insufficiency is colloquially referred to simply as bone marrow atrophy. It is correct that the bone marrow itself does not decrease, but rather its ability to form blood.
causes
There are various causes of bone marrow failure. In very rare cases, it is a symptom of an already congenital disease, such as anemia . Doctors describe such a congenital bone marrow insufficiency as “primarily congenital”. As a rule, however, bone marrow insufficiency is only acquired in the course of life, i.e. secondarily.Bone-displacing processes such as bone metastases, leukemia or malignant lymphoma are among the causes of bone marrow insufficiency. Bone marrow tumors can also promote bone marrow failure. In addition to these forms of cancer, bone marrow failure can also be triggered by contact with toxins . Benzene, for example, is known to cause the wasting of blood-forming bone marrow cells. Various medications can also increase the risk of bone marrow atrophy, for example the active ingredients administered as part of chemotherapy.
Infections caused by certain viruses and bacteria are also suspected of being able to cause bone marrow failure. Last but not least, radioactive radiation must be considered: the effects of radioactivity on the human body can also be a cause of bone marrow insufficiency.
symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of bone marrow failure:
If bone marrow insufficiency develops due to congenital anemia, symptoms such as general weakness, pale skin and shortness of breath or tachycardia can indicate this. If only the cells that form blood platelets are affected by bone marrow atrophy, the disease manifests itself as hematomas, i.e. bleeding into the skin. To the layperson, they are recognizable as bruises.
A typical symptom for all forms of bone marrow insufficiency is anemia. It expresses itself through tiredness and pallor. Since the red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the body cells, there is also an increasing undersupply of oxygen. Shortness of breath is a symptom here. Due to anemia, the body also receives too little iron. Reduced exercise capacity and general weakness are other symptoms of bone marrow failure.
All of the symptoms mentioned can be an expression of various diseases. Only when they occur together – for example, paleness plus weakness plus shortness of breath plus bruises on the skin – suggest bone marrow insufficiency. The doctor will also first make a so-called presumptive diagnosis.
Diagnose
Bone marrow failure is diagnosed based on the symptoms described by those affected. A look at the patient’s medical history can confirm the suspicion of the diagnosis of bone marrow insufficiency. In order to clarify the suspected diagnosis, blood is taken from the person concerned. This is examined microscopically.
If the findings are still unclear, a so-called bone marrow smear can be taken to confirm the diagnosis. The bone marrow is punctured. The puncture is carried out with a hollow needle after local anesthesia, usually on the rear iliac crest. Bone marrow is sucked in with the hollow needle. In this way, the smallest bone marrow and fat parts as well as blood are obtained. This mixture is applied to a slide and can now be assessed under the microscope.
complications
As a rule, bone marrow insufficiency can be treated relatively well and can also be completely cured. Those affected suffer from this disease primarily from severe anemia. This generally has a negative effect on health and can lead to tiredness or dizziness . The patients often feel weak and exhausted and no longer actively participate in everyday life. Pallor and tachycardia can also occur.
Furthermore, the bone marrow insufficiency also leads to breathing difficulties and, in severe cases, to shortness of breath. Bleeding of the skin can also occur and further reduce the patient’s quality of life. As a rule, the treatment of bone marrow failure depends heavily on its root cause. However, the disease can be limited relatively well with the help of medication or donated blood. However, some sufferers are dependent on therapy throughout their lives. Whether this will result in a change in life expectancy cannot be generally predicted.
treatment and therapy
The course of bone marrow insufficiency depends on the cause of the disease. This also applies to therapy. If the cause of the bone marrow insufficiency is, for example, an underlying anemic disease, self-healing is unlikely. However, the earlier the factors underlying bone marrow insufficiency are identified and treated, the more favorable the course.
It is therefore important to combat the cause of the disease and not just to alleviate its symptoms. However, alleviating the symptoms is also important in order to give the patient more well-being. In the case of bone marrow insufficiency, the symptomatic therapy consists of promoting blood formation. This can be achieved with medication, for example by administering anabolic steroids . Transfusion of donor blood is another treatment option used in certain forms of bone marrow failure.
A bone marrow transplant may also be necessary to treat the cause of bone marrow insufficiency. Intact bone marrow cells from a suitable donor are transferred to the patient. If the bone marrow transplant is successful, the disease can be cured. Doctors are currently researching stem cell transplantation. In the future, it could be used for diseases such as bone marrow insufficiency.
prevention
Bone marrow insufficiency caused by congenital anemia cannot usually be prevented. In order to prevent the onset of secondary acquired bone marrow insufficiency, it is important to prevent the causative diseases. At present, however, we still know little about the prevention of these diseases. According to the current state of knowledge, blood cancer, for example, cannot be actively prevented. In order to prevent bone marrow insufficiency, which occurs as a result of cancer, the recommendations for a generally healthy lifestyle with as few harmful substances as possible come into play.It is considered certain that the consumption of cigarettes can promote leukemia. Therefore: Pleasure – and environmental toxins should be avoided if possible. Contact with harmful chemicals and radioactive radiation should also be kept to the necessary minimum. Last but not least, regular visits to early detection examinations can make a contribution to cancer prevention.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.