Anemia Aplastic Anemia

What is aplastic anemia?

What it is

Despite its name, aplastic anemia, or bone marrow failure, is more than anemia. Aplastic anemia is a rare but serious blood condition that occurs when your bone marrow cannot make enough new blood cells for your body to work normally. It can develop quickly or slowly, and it can be mild or serious. At this time, there is no way to prevent aplastic anemia.

What are the symptoms of aplastic anemia?

Symptoms

Symptoms of aplastic anemia include:

• Fatigue
• Infections that last a long time
• Easy bruising or bleeding

How is aplastic anemia diagnosed?

Diagnosis

To diagnose aplastic anemia, your doctor will order tests to find out whether you have low numbers of cells in your bone marrow and blood.

What causes aplastic anemia?

Causes

Aplastic anemia is caused by damage to
stem cells

stem cell

(stem sel):

A cell from which other types of cells develop. For example, blood cells develop from blood-forming stem cells.

inside your bone marrow, which is the sponge-like tissue within your bones. Many diseases and conditions can damage the stem cells in bone marrow. As a result, the bone marrow makes fewer
red blood cells

red blood cell

(red bluhd sel):

A type of blood cell that carries oxygen to all parts of the body; also known as an erythrocyte.

,
white blood cells

white blood cell

A type of cell that is part of the body’s immune system. White blood cells help the body fight infection and other diseases.

, and
platelets

platelet

(PLAYT-let):

A tiny piece of a cell that helps form blood clots to slow or stop bleeding and to help wounds heal; also known as a thrombocyte.

.

The most common cause of bone marrow damage is from your
immune system

immune system

(ih-MYOON sis-tum):

The body’s system of defense against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials. It includes many kinds of cells and interrelated responses.

attacking and destroying the stem cells in your bone marrow. This is a type of autoimmune illness, a disease that makes your body attack itself. Other causes of aplastic anemia include some medicines, such as those used in chemotherapy, and exposure to toxins or chemicals in the environment.

You can also inherit the condition, in rare cases.

How is aplastic anemia treated?

Treatments

Treatments for aplastic anemia may include the following:

• Blood and bone marrow transplants, which may cure aplastic anemia in some people
• Blood transfusions
• Medicines to stop your immune system from destroying the stem cells in your bone marrow
• Medicines to help your body make new blood cells
• Removing or staying away from toxins in your environment

Your doctor will monitor your condition and screen you for blood conditions regularly. If you take medicine that affects your immune system, you will also need to take steps to prevent infection and get annual flu shots.

What happens if aplastic anemia is not treated?

What happens if not treated

Aplastic anemia can raise your risk of complications such as bleeding, leukemia, or other serious blood conditions. Without treatment, aplastic anemia can lead to serious medical conditions such as an irregular heartbeat and heart failure.

Previous

Hemolytic Anemia

Where this page came from

This page was imported from National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Published by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH) and, as a work of the United States government, in the public domain; its pictures are not copied (many are licensed stock).

Nobody has written it yet — it is the source material at a new address, which is why search engines are asked to skip it and why no one earns from it. It is up for grabs: take it on, and it is yours to rewrite and to earn from.