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Aplastic Anaemia
Medical Questions » Aplastic Anaemia
| Name: Aplastic Anaemia |
| Also known as: |
| A very rare, but extremely serious form of anaemia. |
Causes of Aplastic Anaemia
Caused by a failure of the bone marrow and spleen to produce new red blood cells. As old red blood cells die, they are not replaced, leading to a rapidly progressive and severe anemia. Reasons for the failure of the blood cell production include poisons, toxins, insecticides, nuclear irradiation, severe viral infections and some drugs. In more than half the cases, no cause can be found. |
Symptoms of Aplastic Anaemia
In addition to the normal symptoms of anemia of weakness, tiredness and pallor, these patients have a fever, bleeding into the skin, a rapid heart rate, and increased susceptibility to infection. |
Tests for Aplastic Anaemia
Diagnosed by examining a blood film under a microscope. |
Treatment for Aplastic Anaemia
Repeated blood transfusion can keep the patient alive in the short term only. Any cause must be eliminated if it can be found. Steroid drugs may control the condition, but the only effective long term cure is a bone marrow transplant. The donor must be closely related to the patient, but cannot be one of the parents. Brothers and sisters are usually the best donors. The procedure involves taking a small amount of bone marrow from the pelvic bone or breast bone of the donor, and injecting it into the bone marrow of the patient.
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Complications of Aplastic Anaemia of its treatment
Rejection is a far greater problem with a bone marrow transplant than with other forms of transplant. Heart, lung and other organ failure may occur suddenly. |
Likely Outcome of Aplastic Anaemia
Unfortunately, up to half the patients will eventually die from the condition. |
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