Bone marrow suppression 530505 185016200 2008-01-17T17:41:35Z Drphilharmonic 704902 logic, grammar, syntax '''Bone marrow suppression''' is a serious side-effect of [[chemotherapy]] and certain drugs affecting the immune system such as [[azathioprine]]. [[NSAIDS]] may also cause bone marrow suppression. The risk is especially high in chemotherapy for [[leukemia|leukaemia]]. Because the [[bone marrow]] is the manufacturing center of blood cells, the suppression of bone marrow activity causes a deficiency of blood cells. This condition can rapidly lead to life-threatening [[infection]], as the body cannot produce [[leukocytes]] in response to invading [[bacterium|bacteria]] and [[viruses]], as well as lead to anaemia due to a lack of [[red blood cells]] and spontaneous severe bleeding due to deficiency of [[platelets]]. Bone marrow suppression due to azathioprine can be treated by changing to another medication such as [[mycophenolate mofetil]] (for organ transplants) or other disease-modifying drugs in [[rheumatoid arthritis]] or [[Crohn's disease]]. Bone marrow suppression due to anti-cancer chemotherapy is much harder to treat and often involves hospital admission, strict infection control, and aggressive use of intravenous [[antibiotics]] at the first sign of infection. [[Category:Hematology]] [[Category:Oncology]] [[zh:骨髓抑制]]