You can obtain these educational materials by calling our toll-free line . Also, ask to get on our mailing list. Aplastic anemia is a rare but extremely serious disorder that results when the marrow fails to produce blood cells. Aplastic anemia may be either acquired or inherited. Aplastic anemia patients who do not receive a bone marrow transplant may go on to develop myelodysplasia which, in turn, can progress to leukemia.
Aplastic anemia is a rare disease.
It is estimated that there are 2 to 12 new cases per million population per year. It occurs in both adults and children. Myelodysplasia is more common, with the majority of patients being over the age of 50. The central portion of bones is filled with a spongy red tissue called bone marrow. Healthy bone marrow is a superb blood cell factory and supplies as many cells as needed, increasing production of red cells and platelets when bleeding occurs and of white cells when infection threatens.