 | This article needs more reliable medical references for verification or relies too heavily on primary sources. (November 2021) |  |
| Bone marrow suppression | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Myelotoxicity, myelosuppression |
| Specialty | Oncology |
Bone marrow suppression also known as myelotoxicity or myelosuppression, is the decrease in production of cells responsible for providing immunity (leukocytes), carrying oxygen (erythrocytes), and/or those responsible for normal blood clotting (thrombocytes).[1] Bone marrow suppression is a serious side effect of chemotherapy and certain drugs affecting the immune system such as azathioprine.[2] The risk is especially high in cytotoxic chemotherapy for leukemia. In the case of non-small-cell lung cancer, myelosuppression predisposition was shown to be modulated by enhancer mutations.[3]
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), in some rare instances, may also cause bone marrow suppression. The decrease in blood cell counts does not occur right at the start of chemotherapy because the drugs do not destroy the cells already in the bloodstream (these are not dividing rapidly). Instead, the drugs affect new blood cells that are being made by the bone marrow.[4] When myelosuppression is severe, it is called myeloablation.[5]
Many other drugs including common antibiotics may cause bone marrow suppression. Unlike chemotherapy the effects may not be due to direct destruction of stem cells but the results may be equally serious. The treatment may mirror that of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression or may be to change to an alternate drug or to temporarily suspend treatment.
Because the bone marrow is the manufacturing center of blood cells, the suppression of bone marrow activity causes a deficiency of blood cells. This condition can rapidly lead to life-threatening infection, as the body cannot produce leukocytes in response to invading bacteria and viruses, as well as leading to anaemia due to a lack of red blood cells and spontaneous severe bleeding due to deficiency of platelets.
Parvovirus B19 inhibits erythropoiesis by lytically infecting RBC precursors in the bone marrow and is associated with a number of different diseases ranging from benign to severe. In immunocompromised patients, B19 infection may persist for months, leading to chronic anemia with B19 viremia due to chronic marrow suppression.[6]
- ^ "bone marrow suppression". Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ^ Azathioprine side effects Archived November 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Zhigulev A, Norberg Z, Cordier J, Spalinskas R, Bassereh H, Björn N, et al. (March 2024). "Enhancer mutations modulate the severity of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression". Life Science Alliance. 7 (3): e202302244. doi:10.26508/lsa.202302244. ISSN 2575-1077. PMC 10796589. PMID 38228368.
- ^ Bone marrow suppression
- ^ Dictionary of Cancer Terms: myelosuppression
- ^ Parvovirus B19 - BASICS