Cytopenia

As cytopenia ( from Ancient Greek κύτος CYTOS " cavity ", " vessel ", "shell", and ancient Greek πενία PENIA "poverty", "lack " ) refers to the reduction in the number of cells in the blood. In the Anglo-Saxon literature, the term cytopenia is used.

Depending on which cells are affected in the blood is called a:

• Erythrocytopenia, a lack of red blood cells. A special form of anemia that can be caused by a deficiency of hemoglobin or a decrease in hematocrit.
• Leukopenia ( leucopenia completely ), a lack of leukocytes ( less than 4,000 leukocytes per microliter of blood ). In leukopenia is, depending on which leukocytes are involved, further differentiated into: Neutropenia, also called granulocytopenia, a lack of neutrophils (less than 1800 neutrophils per microliter of blood ). The most common form of leukopenia.
• Lymphopenia (fully lymphocytopenia ), a lack of lymphocytes ( less than 1000 per microliter of blood )

If all three rows of cells (red cells, platelets and leukocytes) in the blood affected - that is to say there is anemia, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia - this is called pancytopenia or Trizytopenie.