Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Aplastic Anemia
Number of Conditions: 1
Bone Marrow Failure
Specialty: Hematology
Category: Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Disorders
Sub-category: Aplastic Anemia
Symptoms:
fatigue; easy bruising; frequent infections; shortness of breath; pallor; unexplained bleeding; slow wound healing
Root Cause:
Dysfunction or destruction of hematopoietic stem cells leading to insufficient production of blood cells (red, white, and platelets).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
CBC with low blood counts across all cell lines, bone marrow biopsy, and cytogenetic testing.
Treatment:
Immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporine), bone marrow transplant, growth factors (e.g., erythropoietin), and transfusions.
Medications:
Immunosuppressants like cyclosporine , antithymocyte globulin , and corticosteroids. Growth factors include filgrastim (G-CSF).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; incidence is approximately 2–3 cases per million people annually.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Autoimmune diseases, chemotherapy, radiation exposure, viral infections (e.g., hepatitis), and toxic chemical exposure.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies; treatable with transplant in younger patients, but chronic cases may require ongoing care.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Risk of infections, bleeding, secondary cancers, and transfusion-related iron overload.