Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Cytopenias
Introduction
Cytopenia is a reduction in the number of cells circulating in the blood. It takes a number of forms:
- Low red blood cell count: anemia.
- Low white blood cell count: leukopenia or neutropenia (because neutrophils make up at least half of all white cells, they are almost always low in leukopenia).
- Low platelet count: thrombocytopenia.
- Low granulocyte count: granulocytopenia
- Low red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet counts: pancytopenia.
See also
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]