Bone marrow is one of the most important organs responsible for hematopoietic functions. With its help, the development of vital blood components occurs, of which the most important are:
- leukocytes;
- platelets;
- erythrocytes.
The names of diseases of the bone marrow, their symptoms and diagnosis are presented below. But first, you need to learn more about the components of blood.
Erythrocytes
Erythrocytes contain an important component called "hemoglobin", it is he who gives the blood its characteristic red color. The main purpose of red blood cells is to transport oxygen throughout the body. The brain is most demanding on the constant delivery of new batches of oxygen, so it is the first to feel its lack. This usually happens when there are not enough red blood cells. Because of this, a person turns pale andbegins to experience headaches.
Leukocytes
Another integral component of the blood, which is produced by the bone marrow, are leukocytes. These are white blood cells that stand guard over the body and reflect the attacks of pathogenic microbes that are trying to disrupt the normal functioning of the body. For this, leukocytes produce special protective agents.
Platelets
The third group of blood cells are platelets, also called platelets. They make sure that when a scratch appears, the bleeding stops immediately. In this case, the blood becomes sticky, and the wound from damage instantly heals. It is important that the body does not lose a large amount of blood.
Therefore, even a slight disturbance in its stable operation can lead to a slowdown and even stop the production of new blood, and therefore there are serious problems in the body.
Cells
In the human bone marrow there are also unique stem cells that have the ability to turn into any cells necessary for the body. They are very actively studied and trying to apply in the latest methods of treating oncological diseases.
There are two types of bone marrow cells:
- red, which is made up of hematopoietic tissue;
- yellow composed of adipose tissue.
The origin of red cells occurs in the body duringembryonic development of the fetus. These cells appear in the second month in the collarbone and then form in the bones of the arms and legs. At about the fifth and a half month of a child's development, the bone marrow becomes a full-fledged organ
With age, a person gradually replaces red tissue with yellow, which is accompanied by aging processes. The body loses its functions, in connection with which there are various diseases of the bone marrow. Since the formation of new blood cells occurs in the bone marrow, there is a possibility of their mutations. Such cells are the cause of the appearance of malignant neoplasms.
Aplastic anemia
Aplastic anemia is a disease that is associated with the loss of the ability of the bone marrow to produce the required amount of all major types of blood cells. The disease combines signs of anemia (insufficient number of red blood cells, low hemoglobin) and aplasia of hematopoiesis (inhibition of the production of all blood cells).
The main symptom of bone marrow disease in children and adults is constant weakness and apathy, lack of strength.
This is a very rare disease: its frequency is about 2-6 cases per million inhabitants per year. It can occur at any age, but reaches its peak in young (15-30 years old) and old (over 60 years old) ages.
Cancer
However, the truly terrible disease of the bone marrow is undoubtedly cancer. It has very confused and indistinct symptoms, according to which itquite difficult to detect in the early stages. And this is a vital action, since cancer is treatable only in the initial stages. The spread of painful metastases leads to painful death in 95% of cases. Therefore, you should pay attention to the signs of the disease as soon as possible and consult a doctor. Such simple actions can save the life of the patient.
Causes of cancer
There are a huge number of reasons why a person can develop bone marrow disease. A rather important role is played by his lifestyle, the presence of stressful situations, poor he alth due to the presence of problems with the immune system and some he alth features that are inherited. These include a predisposition to the appearance of cancer.
Studies that have been carried out in recent years have led to the conclusion that apart from other organs, the bone marrow is rarely affected. The most common cases are when the bone marrow is attacked by metastases.
Specialists in the field of oncology report that bone marrow metastases most often occur in people with malignant tumors of the lungs, thyroid gland, mammary glands, prostate gland. The penetration of brain metastases in malignant neoplasms in the colon occurs only in 8% of cases. The spread of cells from the focus of the tumor occurs with the help of blood, which delivers cancer cells to the bone marrow.
VeryIn rare cases, primary cancer of this organ also occurs. Scientists have not yet come to a consensus about the reason for its appearance. Causes such as infections, harmful chemicals, or other negative environmental influences may play a significant role in its occurrence, but there is no conclusive evidence for this.
Cancer Symptoms
The disease has very characteristic features:
- Severe weakness, fatigue.
- Persistent drowsiness and headaches.
- Intestinal pain accompanied by diarrhea.
- Persistent vomiting.
- Severe pain in muscles and bones.
- Increased bone fragility.
- Prone to infectious diseases.
Although these symptoms of bone marrow disease in adults are not a 100% way to determine bone marrow disease, they are a serious signal to seek a highly qualified specialist for advice.
Diagnosis
The most effective way to diagnose diseases of the bone marrow is a blood test, which allows you to detect cancer in the early stages of development. Quite often, a disease is detected during ordinary medical procedures, such as conventional ultrasound. As a rule, it detects an existing cancer that has already reached the third stage, since metastases have spread in large numbers in the organs.patient and de alt a blow to their stable work.
Usually, such stages of the disease are not amenable to successful treatment, you can only slow down the process a little and drown out the growing pain with medication.
Additional methods
Among all diagnostic methods, the following should be highlighted:
- Today, the most effective way to diagnose is a simple blood test for bone marrow disease. This study allows you to diagnose the disease at its early stages, and do it very quickly. This will help to start the treatment process immediately, which will significantly increase the patient's chances of recovery.
- Bone marrow puncture is a tissue removal procedure performed using a special technique. Despite the fact that this is a rather painful procedure for the patient, it must be carried out to confirm suspicions of the presence of the disease. The puncture procedure consists in using a special syringe, which takes the contents of the bones through a puncture in the chest.
- The only way to diagnose and assess the degree of development of such dangerous pathologies as lymphoma and leukemia is a bone marrow biopsy. It also helps evaluate the effectiveness of drug therapy.
- Scintigraphy is a radioisotope test that detects the presence of bone tumors.
- The use of magnetic resonance imaging will help to get a complete picture of the disease, find out the size and location of cancerous formations in the body.
- Moreone modern diagnostic method is computed tomography, with which you can easily identify various pathologies.
Only a doctor is able to choose the best research method, for this he analyzes the already existing symptoms.
Treatment Method
Treatment of diseases of the bone marrow is a very long, painful and expensive task. To combat anemia, a large number of medicines are used, which have very serious side effects. The most radical treatment is a bone marrow transplant.
There are three main treatments for bone marrow cancer:
- During chemotherapy, the patient takes a certain amount of special drugs that affect cancer cells, causing their death, and at the same time destroy metastases. Such drugs are usually prescribed in courses, the number of which is determined by the attending physician. They cause a large number of unpleasant side effects that greatly worsen the patient's condition.
- Before preparing for a bone marrow transplant, radiation therapy is used, during which, with the help of large doses of radiation, one's own affected bone marrow is destroyed. Bone marrow transplantation in some cases is the only way to save a person. To do this, a new bone marrow is taken from a donor, who very often is a close relative. Then it is placed in the patient's body, where it must successfully take root. After a certain amount of time, new cells restore stable operationorganism.
- Unfortunately, this procedure can only help in the early stages of cancer. In the third or fourth stage, successful treatment is not possible, but there are some ways to help relieve pain and prolong the life of the patient a little.
Transfer
Indications for transplantation are important for patients suffering from hematological, oncological or some hereditary diseases. In addition, timely indications are important for patients with acute chronic leukemias, lymphomas, various types of anemia, neuroblastomas and various types of combined immunodeficiency.
Patients with leukemia or some type of immune deficiency have pluripotent SCs that do not function properly. In patients with leukemia, a huge number of cells begin to form in the blood that have not passed all periods of development. In the case of aplastic anemia, the blood ceases to restore the required number of cells. Degraded or immature and low-quality cells imperceptibly oversaturate the arteries and bone marrow, and eventually spread to other organs.
In order to stop the growth and destroy harmful cells in diseases of the red bone marrow, extremely radical therapy, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, is prescribed. Unfortunately, during these radical operations, both diseased cellular components and he althy ones die. And for this reason, the dead cells of the hematopoietic organ are replaced by he althy pluripotent SCs or thepatient, or a compatible donor.
You need to monitor your he alth, regularly visit specialists, and undergo a scheduled medical examination annually. At the first sign of bone marrow disease, you should immediately consult a doctor.
