Skip to main content
        
        U.S. flag
                An official website of the United States government
                    Here’s how you know
                Here’s how you know**Official websites use .gov**
                        
                        A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                        
                        A **lock** (
                        Locked padlock icon
                        ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.Search
    Menu

        Search for Information from NIDDK
            
            Entire Site
                Research & Funding
                Health Information
                News
                About NIDDKSearch

Home
            Research & Funding
                                Expand Research & Funding
                                Current Funding Opportunities
                                                    Research Programs & Contacts
                                                    Human Subjects Research
                                                    Funding Process
                                            Research Training & Career Development
                                                    Funded Grants & Grant History
                                                    Research Resources
                                            Research at NIDDK
                                                    Technology Advancement & Transfer
                                                    Meetings & Workshops
                        Health Information
                                Expand Health Information
                                Health Topics
                                                                                                    Diabetes
                                                    Digestive Diseases
                                                    Kidney Disease
                                                    Weight Management
                                                    Liver Disease
                                                    Urologic Diseases
                                                    Endocrine Diseases
                                                    Diet & Nutrition
                                                    Blood Diseases
                                                    Diagnostic Tests
                                            La información de la salud en español
                                                    Health Statistics
                                                    Healthy Moments Radio Broadcast
                                                    Clinical Trials
                                            For Health Professionals
                                                    Diabetes Discoveries & Practice Blog
                                                    Community Health & Outreach
                        News
                                Expand News
                                News Archive
                                                    For Reporters
                                            Meetings & Workshops
                                                    Media Library
                                            Follow Us
                        About NIDDK
                                Expand About NIDDK
                                Meet the Director
                                                    Offices & Divisions
                                                    Staff Directory
                                                    Budget & Legislative Information
                                            Advisory & Coordinating Committees
                                                    Strategic Plans & Reports
                                                    Research Areas
                                                    FAQs
                                            Jobs at NIDDK
                                                    Visit Us
                                                    Contact Us Home
                    Health Information
                    Blood Diseases
                    Aplastic Anemia & Myelodysplastic Syndromes

    Related Topics
        Blood Diseases
        Anemia of Inflammation or Chronic Disease
                Aplastic Anemia & Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Hide child pages
        Definition & Facts
                Symptoms & Causes
                Diagnosis
                Treatment
                Eating, Diet, & Nutrition
                Clinical TrialsAplastic Anemia & Myelodysplastic Syndromes

View or Print All Sections
    Definition & Facts
    Aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes are rare but serious disorders in which your bone marrow is injured and doesn’t produce enough healthy blood cells, which leads to too few blood cells in your body.
Tubes of blood rest in a rack on a lab table.

    Symptoms & Causes
    The symptoms of aplastic anemia and MDS are similar but vary from person to person, depending on which type of blood cells are most affected and the underlying cause of the disorder.

    Diagnosis
    Health care professionals use your medical and family history, physical exam, and test results to diagnose aplastic anemia and MDS. Tests include blood tests, bone marrow tests, and other tests.


Treatment
    Treatment for aplastic anemia may include a blood and bone marrow transplant, immunosuppressive therapy, blood transfusions, and/or medicine. Treatment for MDS is similar to that for aplastic anemia but focuses more on supportive care rather than a cure.

    Eating, Diet, & Nutrition
    Changes to your eating habits, diet, and nutrition may not prevent or treat aplastic anemia or MDS, but people who have had a stem-cell transplant or have low white blood cell counts may need to follow certain dietary guidelines.


Clinical Trials
    The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and other components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct and support research into many diseases and conditions.

    Related Conditions & Diseases
    Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease
    Anemia of Inflammation or Chronic Disease
    Hemochromatosis
    Hepatitis (Viral)


Related Research
    See more about hematologic diseases research at NIDDK.
        Last Reviewed July 2020

                *Next:*
                Definition & Facts

                This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.
    The NIDDK would like to thank:
Amy E. DeZern, M.D., M.H.S., Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Contact Us
**Hours:** 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday**Email:** healthinfo@niddk.nih.gov**Phone:** +1-800-860-8747**TTY:** +711
Chat
Live Chat Available8:30 a.m - 5 p.m. ETMonday - Friday
Follow Us
LinkedIn
X
Facebook
YouTube
InstagramNIH... Turning Discovery Into Health ®
Privacy Policy
    Freedom of Information Act
    Accessibility
    Disclaimers
    Copyright
    Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
Site Map
    For Staff Only
    Get Email Updates
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    National Institutes of Health