The Influence of Infection on the Degree of Bone Marrow Insufficiency

Abstract

Abstract. The clinical significance of infection in bone marrow failure has been demonstrated in the case histories of five patients with panmyelopathy. In these patients the development of infections was associated with a hematologic relapse. With successful treatment of infections a marked improvement of the hematologic status occurred, characterized by at least a decrease in transfusion requirement and sometimes an increase in leucocyte count and the number of platelets. In one case (no. 1) a complete remission occurred. Apparently infection may lead to acute bone marrow failure in patients with panmyelopathy, possibly by increasing the load on a damaged organ which is already working at the maximum of its limited capacity. Adequate treatment and prevention of infections is therefore of major importance for the hematologic status of those patients.