[Krista]

I'm writing a paper, and had a question regarding how bone marrow failure is caused. I have read in an AA&MDS pamphlet written by Dr. Neal S. Young that the body attacks the blood cells/stem cells, causing their low counts in the bloodstream. But I have also read that it is because damage has ocurred to the stem cells, due to genetics or enviornment, or unknown. Does it depend on the particular disease, or is it something we are just unsure of? Thanks for your help, it could really help my paper.



"Pathophysiology: Bone marrow failure can be inherited or acquired. It can involve just 1 cell line or all 3 cell lines. The pathophysiology of these defects includes the following mechanisms of action: (1) a decrease in or damage to the hematopoietic stem cells and their microenvironment, resulting in hypoplastic or aplastic bone marrow; (2) maturation defects, eg, vitamin B-12 or folate deficiency; and (3) differentiation defects, eg, myelodysplasia."