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    HomeHealth Topics< Back ToAnemiaAplastic Anemia

  What Is Anemia?
                                                  
                          Symptoms
                                                  
                          Diagnosis
                                                  
                          Causes and Risk Factors
                                                  
                          Treatment and Management
                                                  
                          Anemia in Pregnancy
                                                  
                                                                                Types of Anemia
                                                                      Iron-Deficiency Anemia
                                                  
                          Vitamin B12–Deficiency Anemia
                                                  
                          Hemolytic Anemia
                                                  
                          Aplastic Anemia
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          Anemia
AnemiaAplastic Anemia

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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 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, white blood cells, and platelets.

The most common cause of bone marrow damage is from your immune system 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 environmentYour 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.
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  Last updated on March 24, 2022 Back To Top Link
  

        

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