| Ineffective erythropoiesis | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Hematology |
Ineffective erythropoiesis a condition in which the bone marrow produces red blood cells (erythrocytes) that are unable to mature properly and are pre-maturely destroyed due to various causes. Erythropoiesis is the overall process that the body goes through to produce red blood cells. [1] The red blood cell's main function is to carry and transport oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body. [2] If the red blood cells are unable to mature properly or are destroyed pre-maturely, this can lead to anemia. This mechanism is principally responsible for the anemia seen in acquired conditions such as certain subtypes of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and inherited disorders such as β-thalassemia, inherited sideroblastic anemias, as well as congenital dyserythropoietic anemias. [3]