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Bone Marrow Diseases
Summary
Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside some of your bones, such as your hip and thigh bones. It contains stem cells. The stem cells can develop into the red blood cells that carry oxygen through your body, the white blood cells that fight infections, and the platelets that help with blood clotting.
With bone marrow disease, there are problems with the stem cells or how they develop:
- In leukemia, a cancer of the blood, the bone marrow makes abnormal white blood cells
- In aplastic anemia, the bone marrow doesn’t make red blood cells
- In myeloproliferative disorders, the bone marrow makes too many white blood cells
- Other diseases, such as lymphoma, can spread into the bone marrow and affect the production of blood cells
Causes of bone marrow diseases include genetics and environmental factors. Tests for bone marrow diseases include blood and bone marrow tests. Treatments depend on the disorder and how severe it is. They might involve medicines, blood transfusions or a bone marrow transplant.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Genetics
- 8p11 myeloproliferative syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Ataxia-pancytopenia syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Diamond-Blackfan anemia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Essential thrombocythemia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Fanconi anemia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Pearson marrow-pancreas syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Polycythemia vera: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Primary myelofibrosis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Shwachman-Diamond syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
Encyclopedia
- Agranulocytosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Bone marrow biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
- Bone-marrow transplant – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
- Erythropoietin test Medical Encyclopedia
- Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) Medical Encyclopedia
- Reticulocyte count Medical Encyclopedia
Find an Expert
- American Cancer Society American Cancer Society
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
- National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Specifics
- Atypical Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia National Cancer Institute
- Essential Thrombocythemia National Cancer Institute
- Fanconi Anemia (FA) Cleveland Clinic Foundation
- General Information about Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms National Cancer Institute
- General Information about Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasms National Cancer Institute
- Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia National Cancer Institute
- Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasm, Unclassifiable National Cancer Institute
- Myelofibrosis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Polycythemia Vera National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Primary Myelofibrosis National Cancer Institute
- Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Diagnosis and Tests
- Blood Count Tests: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
- Blood Tests National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Bone Marrow Test National Library of Medicine
- Reticulocyte Count National Library of Medicine
Patient Handouts
- Bone marrow aspiration Medical Encyclopedia
- Bone marrow culture Medical Encyclopedia
- Bone marrow transplant Medical Encyclopedia
- Bone marrow transplant – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
- Myelofibrosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Polycythemia vera Medical Encyclopedia
Treatments and Therapies
- Bone Marrow Transplantation: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
- Drugs Approved for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms National Cancer Institute
- Treatment Option Overview (Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms) National Cancer Institute
- Treatment Option Overview (Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasms) National Cancer Institute
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Bone Marrow Diseases National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Myeloproliferative Disorders National Institutes of Health
Children
- Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (For Parents) Nemours Foundation