zytopenien

Zytopenien, or cytopenias in English, refer to a reduction in one or more blood cell lineages. The term covers decreases in erythrocytes (anaemia), leukocytes (neutropenia or leukopenia), and platelets (thrombocytopenia). When two lines are reduced, it is called bicytopenia; all three, pancytopenia. In German medical usage the plural is Zytopenien.

Causes are broad and include bone marrow failure (aplastic anaemia, myelodysplastic syndromes), marrow infiltration by cancer, chemotherapy or radiation, nutritional deficiencies (iron, vitamin B12, folate), autoimmune destruction (immune thrombocytopenia, autoimmune neutropenia), infections (parvovirus B19), medications and alcohol, hypersplenism, and inherited disorders (Fanconi anaemia, Diamond-Blackfan anaemia).

Clinical features depend on the affected line: anaemia causes fatigue and pale skin; neutropenia raises infection risk; thrombocytopenia presents with easy bruising or bleeding. Diagnosis begins with a complete blood count showing cytopenias, followed by reticulocyte count and peripheral smear. Additional tests target suspected causes and may include iron, B12 and folate levels, viral assays, autoimmune tests, and, if needed, bone marrow examination.

Treatment focuses on the underlying cause and on supportive care. This may include iron, B12, or folate supplementation; management of infections; transfusions of red blood cells or platelets; and growth factors such as G-CSF or erythropoietin when appropriate. Severe or progressive cytopenias due to bone marrow failure or malignancy may require immunosuppressive therapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Zytopenien are common in oncology and in congenital marrow failure syndromes; prognosis depends on cause, severity, and response to therapy. In English-language medical literature, standard terms are cytopenia (singular) and cytopenias (plural).