Bone marrow diseases affect blood cell production and can include polycythemia vera, leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and aplastic anemia. Symptoms vary and treatments include phlebotomy, medication, radiation, chemotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation. Aplastic anemia can be caused by toxins or medication.
There are several bone marrow diseases, but most are directly related to the production of blood and blood cells. For example, polycythemia vera is a disease in which a person produces too many red blood cells, while leukemia is a cancer that primarily affects white blood cells. Lymphoma is a blood cancer that affects the lymph nodes, and those with myeloma have problems with platelets. Aplastic anemia, in turn, hinders the production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The prognosis for each condition is different and specific to the individual patient. Much depends on when the disease is contracted and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. In general, however, these conditions tend to be treatable in most people.
Bone marrow basics
Bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue that fills the center of most bones, and is most prolific and dense in larger bones such as the hip and femur. The marrow is where most of the body’s blood cell production takes place. The cells that are created in the marrow are then released into the bloodstream to circulate to organs, including the brain and heart. Blood is typically made up of three main parts. Red blood cells carry oxygen, white blood cells fight infections in the body, and platelets enable blood to clot.
Bone marrow problems most commonly involve blood. The most common examples are overproduction or underproduction of blood cells, abnormal blood cell production, or initial defects in stem cells. Sometimes the defects are a one-off thing, but in most cases they are the result of a specific ailment or disease. The most common symptoms of bone marrow disease include infection, anemia, fever and weight loss. Symptoms can vary from person to person. Also, most have “seasons” or cycles that alternate between flare-ups and remissions. In most cases, the diagnosis requires a complete physical exam and lots of blood tests.
polycythemia vera
Polycythemia vera (PV) is a type of bone marrow disease in which the bone marrow produces excessive amounts of red blood cells, which results in extremely thick blood. This condition is associated with an increased risk of heart attack, blood clots, and stroke. PV can often be treated with phlebotomy treatment, in which patients have about a pint of blood removed per week to thin the blood. Some medications, such as hydroxyurea and interferon alpha, may also be used to help prevent the bone marrow from overproduction of red blood cells. In some cases, radiation is used to stop overproduction.
Leukemia and lymphoma
Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells, causing them to continually multiply and mature to the point where they fill up other cells in the region. Leukemia can be acute or chronic. Acute lymphocytic leukemia primarily affects children, while acute myeloid leukemia is more commonly seen in adults. Many types of leukemia can be treated and some can be cured. Common treatments include bone marrow transplantation, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplantation. Treatments may also include antibiotics, blood transfusions, and surgery.
Lymph nodes and the immune system can also be affected by lymphoma, which is cancer involving cells called lymphocytes. The exact cause of this bone marrow disease is not known, but several risk factors are involved, including certain infections, autoimmune diseases, age, and family history. Treatment options for lymphoma often include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and biological therapy.
myeloma
A bone marrow cancer called multiple myeloma can occur when plasma cells become so grown that they become tumors. The cells build up and circulate through the blood, eventually overwhelming the production of healthy cells in other parts of the body. The renegade cells then interfere with the immune system’s ability to fight infection. The causes of the condition are unknown, but it tends to be more common among the elderly and those of African descent. This type of cancer is difficult to cure, and doctors often focus on treating symptoms to keep patients comfortable. Some treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplant, pain management medications, and surgery.
Anemia aplastica
Aplastic anemia is a bone marrow disease that hinders or completely stops the production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. More often, however, red blood cells are most affected. Aplastic anemia is usually caused by exposure to radiation or toxins, such as those used in pesticides and insecticides. Some medications, such as those used to treat arthritis, may also be a causal factor, as can viruses that attack the bone marrow such as hepatitis and HIV. In aplastic anemia, stem cells, precursors of the other three blood cells, do not replicate normally. Therefore, the bone marrow produces a very small amount of healthy blood cells. Treatment for aplastic anemia may include bone marrow transplantation, bone marrow transfusion, and oxygen therapy.
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