Which condition is a bone marrow failure leading to a decrease in red cells, white cells, and platelets?

Which condition is a bone marrow failure leading to a decrease in red cells, white cells, and platelets?

• A. Anticoagulant
• B. Nebulizer
• C. Cystic fibrosis
• D. Aplastic anemia

Answer: (D)

A bone marrow failure that reduces all three blood cell types is called pancytopenia, and the classic condition that causes this is aplastic anemia. In aplastic anemia, the hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow are damaged or suppressed, so the marrow can’t produce enough red cells, white cells, or platelets. That leads to fatigue and pallor from anemia, higher susceptibility to infections from leukopenia, and easy bruising or bleeding from thrombocytopenia. The other options don’t involve bone marrow failure or a decrease in all three cell lines: an anticoagulant prevents clotting, a nebulizer delivers inhaled medications to the lungs, and cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder mainly affecting the lungs and digestion. So the condition described is aplastic anemia.

A bone marrow failure that reduces all three blood cell types is called pancytopenia, and the classic condition that causes this is aplastic anemia. In aplastic anemia, the hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow are damaged or suppressed, so the marrow can’t produce enough red cells, white cells, or platelets. That leads to fatigue and pallor from anemia, higher susceptibility to infections from leukopenia, and easy bruising or bleeding from thrombocytopenia. The other options don’t involve bone marrow failure or a decrease in all three cell lines: an anticoagulant prevents clotting, a nebulizer delivers inhaled medications to the lungs, and cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder mainly affecting the lungs and digestion. So the condition described is aplastic anemia.