A side effect of many anticancer and antiviral drugs, including AZT. Leads to a decrease in white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Such reductions, in turn, result in anemia, bacterial infections, and spontaneous or excess bleeding.
A decrease in the production of blood cells. Cancer A group of diseases in which malignant cells grow out of control and spread to other parts of the body. Carcinogen A substance that causes cancer
A general side effect associated with many chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat cancer and, sometimes, anti-HIV drugs. Bone marrow suppression may lead to a decrease in red blood cells (See Anemia), white blood cells (See Leukopenia) or platelets (See Thrombocytopenia). Bone marrow suppression is also referred to as myelosuppression.
Bone marrow suppression is a serious side effect of chemotherapy and certain drugs affecting the immune system such as azathioprine. The risk is especially high in chemotherapy for leukaemia.