Most cases occur in senior citizens, but a significant number of children are affected. Treatment Options Patients with severe aplastic anemia require immediate hospital treatment. Initial treatment often includes blood transfusions and intravenous antibiotics. Bone marrow transplantation is recommended for patients who are good candidates and who have a matched donor. Most young patients who have a matched donor are successfully cured by bone marrow transplantation.
Drug therapy is another treatment choice that is usually successful.
The cause of the disease is usually unknown, although the disease has been linked to environmental toxins such as benzene derivatives, pesticides and chemicals. In some individuals aplastic anemia is believed to be caused by a virus. The immunosuppressive drugs allow the patient's bone marrow to produce blood cells.