Haematology
Case 10: A Patient with Shortness of Breath and Purulent Sputum
CASE
A 79‐year‐old man attends A&E with a 4‐day history of increasing shortness of breath and purulent sputum. On examination he has right basal crackles extending to the mid‐zones and he is centrally cyanosed. Pneumonia is diagnosed and he is commenced on broad‐spectrum antibiotics.
Blood tests showed:
Hb 9.7 g/dL MCV 108 fL WCC 1.5 × 109/L (neutrophils 0.6) Platelets 85 × 109/L CRP 160 mg/L PT and APTT Normal Na 138 mmol/L K 3.8 mmol/L Creatinine 110 µmol/L Liver function Normal
Blood film: pancytopenia, dysplastic neutrophils, occasional blast
QUESTION 1
Your score this session: 0 of 0
What is the most likely cause of his leukopenia?