Hematologic complications of HIV infection

Hematologic complications of HIV disease are commonly encountered by physicians and other health-care workers caring for patients infected with this virus. Ineffective hematopoiesis, infiltrative diseases of the bone marrow, nutritional deficiencies, peripheral destruction of blood cells secondary to splenomegaly or immune dysregulation, and drug effects all contribute to the variety of hematologic abnormalities seen in these patients. This review explores the causes of isolated or trilineage cytopenias and coagulopathies; the utility of bone marrow biopsy examination; and the role of colony-stimulating factors as therapeutic agents in patients with HIV disease.