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What is Aplastic Anemia?
Edited Kelly Rudnick, MS, MPH
Guyana Journal, February 2010
Aplastic anemia is a blood condition that occurs when the body's bone marrow is unable to make enough new red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Bone marrow is a sponge-like tissue inside the bones that contain stems cells, which develop into new blood cells. Aplastic anemia is sometimes called bone marrow failure. This is because the bone marrow's stem cells are damaged.
Aplastic anemia is a rare but serious condition that can affect people of any age. About 500-1000 people in the United States develop aplastic anemia each year. It is more common in Asian countries, where it affects about 3 times as many people.
What causes Aplastic Anemia?
Any damage to stem cells in the bone marrow can cause aplastic anemia. When the stem cells are damaged, they are unable to grow into blood cells. The bone marrow produces all the blood cells for your body, including:
o Red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of your body
o White blood cells, which help the body fight infections
o Platelets, which help control bleeding
It is normal for blood cells to die. Each type of blood cell only lives for a certain period of time. Red blood cells live for about 120 days, while white blood cells live for less than 1 day. Platelets can live for about 6 days. Because these blood cells die, they need to be constantly replaced with new cells.
In many cases, doctors do not know what causes aplastic anemia. In some cases, a person may develop aplastic anemia from an inherited disease. Aplastic anemia may also be caused by exposure to high doses of radiation, certain toxins, or viruses. In some people, aplastic anemia may be caused by an autoimmune disease. This means that the body's immune system attacks the bone marrow which can then not make enough blood cells.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Aplastic Anemia?
Aplastic anemia can develop slowly over weeks or months, or it may come on suddenly. The illness may be brief, or it may become a lifelong condition.
Low numbers of red blood cells may cause a person to feel weak or tired, to have shortness of breath, or become dizzy (especially when standing up). It may also cause headache, coldness in hands and feet, and pale skin.
Symptoms of low numbers of white blood cells include fevers, frequent infections, and flu-like symptoms that last a long time.
People that have low numbers of platelets tend to bruise easily and bleed for long periods of time after cutting themselves. They may also have frequent nose bleeds and bleeding from their gums.
How is Aplastic Anemia diagnosed?
Your doctor will diagnose aplastic anemia testing samples of blood and bone marrow. In people with aplastic anemia, blood cells levels will be lower than normal. There will also be a lower than normal number of cells in the bone marrow. Based on the number of cells seen in the blood and bone marrow, doctors diagnose the condition as mild, moderate, or severe. Mild or moderate aplastic anemia may become more severe over time, so your doctor will monitor your condition periodically.
Treatment Options for Aplastic Anemia
Aplastic anemia can be mild, moderate, or severe. Treatment options for aplastic anemia depend on the severity of the condition. Mild or moderate aplastic anemia, while serious, does not require hospitalization to treat. Severe aplastic anemia (very low blood cell counts) is life-threatening and requires immediate treatment in a hospital. Treatments for aplastic anemia may include observation for mild cases, blood transfusions, and medications. Blood transfusions temporarily help relieve the symptoms of aplastic anemia, but they are not a permanent cure.
In more severe cases, some people need bone marrow transplantation. Bone marrow transplantation replaces damaged stem cells with healthy ones from another person, called a donor. While bone marrow transplantation carries risks, it also offers the best chance at a cure in cases where a suitable donor is found.
It is important to see a doctor who is an expert in the disease. A hematologist specializes in blood disorders and can explain the benefits and risks of each treatment option. Together with your hematologist, you can make good treatment decisions.
For more information on aplastic anemia, please visit the following website:
Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation, Inc.
Kelly Rudnick is a Senior Content Development Specialist in Horsham, PA
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