What is the Difference Between Cytopenia and Pancytopenia

The main difference between cytopenia and pancytopenia is that cytopenia is the low levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets, whereas pancytopenia is the reduction in all cell lines of blood.

Cytopenia and pancytopenia are two blood disorders that contain reduced components of blood. The three components of blood include red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Cytopenia
– Definition, Facts, Features
2. What is Pancytopenia
– Definition, Facts, Features
3. Similarities Between Cytopenia and Pancytopenia
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Cytopenia and Pancytopenia
– Comparison of Key Differences
5. FAQ: Cytopenia and Pancytopenia
– Answers to frequently asked questions

Key Terms  

Cytopenia, Pancytopenia

What is Cytopenia

Cytopenia is a condition that involves the reduction of one or more blood cell types. There are three types of blood cells. They are red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and pancytopenia are the four types of cytopenia. Anemia occurs when the red blood cells are reduced in number. Leukopenia is the low levels of white blood cells. Thrombocytopenia is a deficiency of platelets.

Figure 1: Cytopenia

Furthermore, autoimmune cytopenia and refractory cytopenia are the two types of cytopenia. Autoimmune cytopenia occurs in autoimmune diseases. Refractory cytopenia occurs when bone marrow produces healthy blood cells.  

What is Pancytopenia

Pancytopenia is the reduction of three hematologic cell lines. It can occur due to the decreased production of blood cells or increased destruction. It is the low red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Red blood cells supply oxygen to tissues throughout the body. Hemoglobin is the essential protein that transports oxygen. White blood cells in the body fight against infections. Neutrophils are the most common types of white blood cells. 

Figure 2: Pancytopenia

Moreover, platelets help blood clotting, and the presence of a reduced number of platelets is thrombocytopenia. The symptoms of reduced red blood cells include fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, arrhythmia, or pale or clammy skin. Also, the symptoms of white blood cells include fatigue, fever, sore throat, mouth sores, severe cough, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and swollen lymph nodes. Further, the symptoms of reduced platelets include bruising easily, heavy and prolonged bleeding, and blood in urine and vomit.      

Similarities Between Cytopenia and Pancytopenia

• Cytopenia and pancytopenia are two blood disorders that contain reduced blood components.
• It involves reducing red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. 

Difference Between Cytopenia and Pancytopenia

Definition

Cytopenia refers to a reduced number of blood cells manifesting as either anemia, neutropenia, or thrombocytopenia, while pancytopenia refers to a decrease in all three hematologic cell lines. 

Significance

Cytopenia is the low levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets, while pancytopenia is the reduction in all blood cell lines.

Types

Several cytopenia types occur anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and pancytopenia, while pancytopenia is a deficiency of all three parts of the blood.         

FAQ: Cytopenia and Pancytopenia

What is leukopenia?

Leukopenia is the condition of having a reduced number of white blood cells. Bone marrow produces white blood cells. Infection, chills, fever above 100.4 degrees, and sweating are the symptoms of severe leukopenia. 

What is pancytopenia also called?

Pancytopenia is the decreased production of blood cells due to nutritional deficiencies. Aplastic pancytopenia is caused by bone marrow failure. 

What is the difference between pancytopenia and thrombocytopenia?

Thrombocytopenia is the low platelet count. Pancytopenia is the reduction of all three blood cell types. Leucopenia is a condition of having few white blood cells.

Conclusion

In brief, cytopenia and pancytopenia are two blood disorders that cause the reduction of blood cells. Cytopenia is the reduced number of blood cells. Anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and pancytopenia are the types of cytopenia. In comparison, pancytopenia reduces all cell lines in the blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The main difference between cytopenia and pancytopenia is the type of reduction of blood cells. 

References:

1. Cytopenia. Cleveland clinic. 
2. Pancytopenia. Cleveland clinic. Cleveland clinic. 

Image Courtesy:

1. “Red Blood Cell” By BruceBlaus – Own Work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Blausen 0909 WhiteBloodCells (notext)” By Arek Socha – Own Work (CC-BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia