Though aplastic anemia (a bone marrow failure disorder) can affect people of any age group, it is more common in older teens, people in their 20s, and older adults. This type of anemia can occur abruptly or manifest gradually and worsen with time. Each year, between 600 to 900 people are diagnosed with aplastic anemia in the United States. This condition is rare but can become fatal if it remains untreated. Therefore, it is recommended to seek immediate medical care if you develop aplastic anemia symptoms.
Aplastic anemia is an uncommon but treatable condition that occurs when your bone marrow stops making new blood cells (white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets). In some cases, the bone marrow only stops making one type of blood cell. However, in most cases, it stops making all three types of blood cells. Aplastic anemia can cause you less severe symptoms like fatigue or can give you more severe symptoms like making you vulnerable to infections and uncontrolled bleeding. This condition can also become life-threatening if your blood count becomes extremely low.
There are two forms of aplastic anemia:
It is common in adults and occurs when the immune system damages the stem cells in the bone marrow. Other factors that can damage the stem cells include:
Gene defects cause Inherited aplastic anemia. If not treated, this condition could potentially lead to leukemia or other cancers, so visit your doctor for timely treatment and care.
Symptoms of this medical condition depend on which kind of blood cells are affected by aplastic anemia:
Your doctor may conduct the tests described below to diagnose aplastic anemia:
A blood test reveals whether your bone marrow produces blood cells within the normal range or not. Low levels of RBC, WBC, and platelets indicate aplastic anemia.
Your doctor will remove a sample tissue from your bone marrow and examine it under the microscope for abnormalities. Bone marrow with fewer blood cells than normal confirms aplastic anemia.
Mild aplastic anemia does not require treatment, as stopping medication or staying away from toxic chemicals is sufficient. However, moderate cases may require blood and platelet transfusions, and severe aplastic anemia, a life-threatening condition, requires immediate hospitalization.
Depending on your age and the severity of your condition, your doctor will recommend any of the following treatment options.
Blood transfusions can ease symptoms by providing the blood cells that your bone marrow cannot produce.
During blood transfusions, you might receive:
However, multiple blood transfusions can at times lead to certain complications. Iron from transfused blood cells can accumulate in your body and damage critical organs if not treated on time. Medications can resolve the problem of excess accumulated iron in your body. Additionally, your body can also develop antibodies to transfused blood cells, reducing their effectiveness in treating symptoms. However, immunosuppressant medication can reduce the probability of this condition. Speak with your hematologist to see if this is the right option for you.
Stem cell transplants are recommended for people with severe aplastic anemia or who are younger and have a matching donor (usually a sibling). The procedure involves removing your diseased bone marrow and filtering healthy stem cells from the donor’s blood. The healthy stem cells are injected into your bloodstream intravenously, moving to the bone marrow cavities and making new blood cells. After the procedure, you are given medications to prevent the rejection of donated stem cells.
Some drugs, including colony-stimulating factors, such as epoetin alfa (Epogen/Procrit), sargramostim (Leukine), pegfilgrastim (Neulasta), eltrombopag (Promacta), and filgrastim (Neupogen), stimulate the bone marrow to make new blood cells.
Immunosuppressant drugs are recommended for people with aplastic anemia caused by an autoimmune disorder or who cannot undergo a stem cell transplant. These drugs suppress the immune cells’ activity that damages your bone marrow, thus recovering it and helping to make new blood cells. Your anemia might recur if you stop taking these drugs.
Aplastic anemia can weaken your immune system, making you prone to infections. Therefore, your doctor might prescribe antiviral or antibiotic medicines to prevent infections if you have severe aplastic anemia. If you are a patient of aplastic anemia, get medical help as soon as you notice any infection symptom because it can be life-threatening.
Aplastic anemia caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapy usually improves after stopping those treatments. Pregnancy-related aplastic anemia either improves after childbirth or is treated with blood transfusions. At Chesapeake Oncology Hematology Associates, we have experienced and highly-trained providers to treat aplastic anemia with the best treatment options that ensure desired results. Contact us today for aplastic anemia diagnosis and treatment or if you have any questions concerning the condition.
