Aplastic Anemia

What is an Aplastic Anemia

Aplastic anemia occurs when soft tissue inside of bones (bone marrow) stops making enough blood cells. There are three types of blood cells:

  • Red blood cells. These carry oxygen to the tissues of the body.
  • White blood cells. These fight infection.
  • Platelets. These help your blood to clot when you have an injury.

Aplastic anemia is a rare and serious condition that may develop slowly or rapidly. Even after treatment, it is necessary to be monitored for problems that can come back (recur).

What are the causes?

This condition may be caused by anything that injures bone marrow, such as:

  • Radiation and chemotherapy treatment for cancer. These treatments are used to kill cancer cells, but they also damage healthy cells.
  • Exposure to poisonous (toxic) chemicals that are used in some pesticides and insecticides.
  • Certain medicines, such as medicines used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Conditions in which the body’s disease-fighting system (immune system) attacks the body’s own cells (autoimmune disorders).
  • Viral infections, including hepatitis.
  • Pregnancy. This is a rare cause of aplastic anemia, and it may be related to an autoimmune problem that affects bone marrow.

Sometimes, the cause is not known.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition include:

  • Shortness of breath.
  • Fatigue.
  • Light-headedness or fainting.
  • Shortness of breath and rapid heart rate, especially with physical activity.
  • Pale skin and lips.
  • Frequent infections.
  • Bruising and bleeding easily.
  • Nosebleeds and bleeding gums.
  • Prolonged bleeding from cuts.
  • Severe bleeding during menstrual periods in women.
  • Sore mouth.
  • Bacterial or fungal infections.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed based on:

  • Your symptoms.
  • Your medical history.
  • Blood tests.
  • Removal of a bone marrow sample (biopsy) for testing.

You may have more tests to find the underlying cause of your aplastic anemia.

How is this treated?

Treatment for aplastic anemia depends on the severity of the condition. For mild cases, observation is needed. In severe cases, or if complications develop, hospitalization may be necessary. Severe aplastic anemia is life-threatening. Treatment may include:

  • Receiving donated blood through an IV tube (blood transfusion).
  • Medicines:
    • To reduce the activity of (suppress) the immune system, if you have an autoimmune disorder.
    • To stimulate bone marrow to make more blood cells.
  • Antibiotic medicines to prevent infection.
  • Receiving healthy bone marrow from a donor (bone marrow transplant), if your condition is severe. After the transplant, you will need to take medicines to help prevent your body from rejecting the new marrow. If the procedure is successful, the transplanted marrow will begin to produce new blood cells. Your health care provider will determine whether you are a candidate for bone marrow transplant.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

  • Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
  • If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your health care provider.Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.

General instructions

  • Get plenty of rest, and eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.
  • Avoid excessive exercise. Long-term anemia can put stress on the heart. Ask your health care provider what types of exercise are best for you.
  • When platelets are at low levels, avoid all activities that put you at risk for injury. This is important because your risk of bleeding is greater. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you when your platelets are low.
  • Protect yourself from infections:
    • Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
    • Avoid crowds.
    • Avoid contact with sick people.
  • Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

How is this prevented?

  • Avoid exposure to toxic chemicals such as:
    • Insecticides.
    • Herbicides.
    • Organic solvents.
    • Paint removers.
  • Take steps to protect yourself from infections.

Contact a health care provider if:

  • You develop mouth sores.
  • You have a fever or other symptoms that last for more than 2–3 days.
  • You develop flu-like symptoms.
  • You are bruising easily.
  • You develop signs of an infection.
  • You have blood in your urine or your stool (feces).
  • You are bleeding from your gums or nose.
  • You develop infections more often than usual.

Get help right away if:

  • You have a fever and your symptoms suddenly get worse.
  • You have prolonged bleeding from cuts.
  • You have shortness of breath that gets worse.
  • You have chest pain or a rapid heart rate when you do physical activity.
  • You have increasing fatigue and tiredness.
  • You become light-headed or you faint.
  • You develop pale skin and lips.
  • You cough up blood.

Summary

  • Aplastic anemia occurs when soft tissue inside of the bones (bone marrow) stops making enough blood cells.
  • Treatment for aplastic anemia depends on the severity of the condition, and it may involve medicines or transfusions.
  • In severe cases, or if complications develop, hospitalization may be necessary.
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