Cytopénies chez le patient âgé

Cytopenia are common among elderly population, especially anemia associated or not with neutropenia and/or thrombocytopenia. Because of the typical multimorbidity and polymedication of elderly patients over 75 years, the identification of the most likely etiologies of anemia is challenging, given the diversity of potential simultaneous contributing causes. Symptoms of anemia are highly variable in the elderly, from asthenia to heart failure or dementia. This is an important public health issue. Even though pathophysiological mechanisms are fairly identical to those of younger patients, frequencies of a subset of etiologies (combined anemia due to iron deficiencies and inflammation of chronic disease, B9/B12 vitamin deficiencies, myelodysplastic syndromes…) are specific to this age group. Interactions between the physicians and pathologists in parallel to patient's interview and including the precise examination of blood and/or marrow smears, may lead to the right diagnosis regarding cytopenia. Physician may then be able to propose an optimal therapeutic taking into account the patient's comorbidities.