“…The peripheral lymph nodes and spleen also show generalized atrophy and distorted architecture [14,15,16], although to a lesser extent than that seen in the thymus [14,15]. The bone marrow frequently becomes hypo-cellular with decreased hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) (the precursor to the hematologic cells produced in the marrow) and increased adipocytes [17,18,19], contributing to lymphopenia, decreased myeloid cells (neutrophils and monocytes), and potentially other plasma hematologic changes (i.e., anemia) as found in murine models [17,20,21]. However, plasma leukocyte and lymphocyte levels in children with malnutrition are conflicting, likely related to recent or concomitant infection as well as the methodology employed [22,23].…”