Bone marrow suppression is a reduction in blood cells caused by chemotherapy. Symptoms include leukopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Doctors can prescribe antibiotics, blood transfusions, or platelet growth factors to treat the condition. Patients may be advised to avoid physical activity, alcohol, and exposure to infections.
Bone marrow suppression, also known as myelosuppression, is a reduction in the number of blood cells made by a person’s bone marrow, including white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This medical condition can occur in cancer patients as a result of treatment with chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy drugs can cause damage to a patient’s bone marrow cells that are responsible for making each of the different types of blood cells. Doctors typically observe the signs and symptoms of low blood cell counts that result from bone marrow suppression and can make changes to a patient’s medical treatment to counteract these effects.
Patients with myelosuppression may develop a low white blood cell count, also known as leukopenia. This condition can cause several symptoms, including fever, sore throat and cough, as well as shortness of breath. Chills, nasal congestion, and burning when urinating can also occur with low white blood cell counts. Individuals with insufficient amounts of white blood cells are generally more susceptible to infections. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics to patients with this type of bone marrow suppression to fight infections caused by bacteria.
Individuals with this condition may also experience a reduction in the amount of their red blood cells, also known as anemia. Some of the signs of anemia include pale skin and mucous membranes, dizziness, and fatigue. People with this type of bone marrow suppression may experience shortness of breath, especially while climbing steps, walking, or engaging in any other physical effort. Low blood pressure, unusual irritability, and an increased breathing rate or heart rate are also possible with this condition. Doctors may prescribe blood transfusions to raise red blood cell levels or may treat the condition with medications such as erythropoietin.
Myelosuppression can cause a decrease in the level of platelets in a patient’s blood, a condition also known as thrombocytopenia. A low platelet count usually means a reduction in the body’s ability to form blood clots and can cause abnormal bleeding from minor cuts and scrapes and bruises and bleeding from the gums and nose. Headaches, bloody urine, and bloody stools may also occur with this condition. In some cases of thrombocytopenia, severe internal bleeding may also develop. Doctors can treat this condition with platelet transfusions or drugs such as oprelvechin, a platelet growth factor.
In many cases, patients with suppressed bone marrow can receive recommendations from a doctor to help prevent serious medical complications. Individuals may be instructed to avoid strenuous physical activity, alcohol intake, and foods with rough surfaces that can affect internal bleeding. Some people with suppressed bone marrow may benefit from avoiding shaving or covering cuts and scrapes to reduce the risk of bleeding. In many cases, individuals with the condition can reduce their risk of infection by avoiding exposure to people who have active infections.
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