Topics:
Pediatric Oncology • Rheumatology • Hematology • Pediatric Hematology • Systemic lupus erythematosus • Benign Hematology • Cytopenia
What is your threshold for pursuing bone marrow biopsy in a lupus patient with cytopenias?
Answer from: at Academic Institution
I rarely do bone marrow biopsies in patients with SLE as cytopenias are caused primarily by the disease itself and/or medications, primarily Azathioprine and Cyclophosphamide. SLE patients routinely have profound lymphopenia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia.
I consider bone marrow biopsy in patie...
Sign in or Register to read more
Answer from: at Community Practice
Cytopenia is commonly encountered in patients with SLE. There are three major reasons for cytopenia in SLE:
Immune mediated due to immune dysregulation in SLE
Secondary to drugs such as MTX, AZA, MMF
Hematological malignancy or bone marrow metastasis of solid tumors
Currently, there is no consen...