Blast Cells

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Blast cells are part of the “myeloid” line of blood cells in the bone marrow which develop into red blood cells, white blood cells & platelets. They are the most immature cells (or earliest) of this line. Blast cells are not normally seen in the blood circulation & their presence in a complete blood count (CBC) would give rise to a suspicion of acute myeloid (myelogenous) leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). In AML & MDS there is an over-production of these abnormal blast cells (myeloblasts), sometimes to the extent that they take over the bone marrow and are forced out into the bloodstream. This stops the production of red cells, platelets & normal white blood cells. These abnormal myeloblast cells cannot develop into normal cells.

 

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