What is the meaning of aplastic anemia?

Aplastic anemia occurs when your bone marrow doesn’t make enough red and white blood cells, and platelets. Having fewer red blood cells causes hemoglobin to drop. Hemoglobin is the part of blood that carries oxygen through your body.

What is the survival rate for aplastic anemia?

What are the survival rates for aplastic anemia? Aplastic anemia is a life-threatening condition with very high death rates (about 70% within 1 year) if untreated. The overall five-year survival rate is about 80% for patients under age 20.

Why is aplastic anemia macrocytic?

Aplastic anemia is a syndrome of bone marrow failure characterized by peripheral pancytopenia and marrow hypoplasia (see the image below). Although the anemia is often normocytic, mild macrocytosis can also be observed in association with stress erythropoiesis and elevated fetal hemoglobin levels.

How aplastic anemia is diagnosed?

Bone marrow biopsy. The sample is examined under a microscope to rule out other blood-related diseases. In aplastic anemia, bone marrow contains fewer blood cells than normal. Confirming a diagnosis of aplastic anemia requires a bone marrow biopsy.

What type of disease is aplastic anemia?

Aplastic anemia is a rare blood disorder. This serious condition is a type of bone marrow failure syndrome. If you have aplastic anemia, the springy tissue inside your bones (bone marrow) does not produce enough white blood cells (leukopenia or neutropenia), red blood cells (anemia) or platelets (thrombocytopenia).

Can you recover from aplastic anemia?

The only cure for aplastic anemia is a bone marrow transplant. If you need to wait for a bone marrow donor who is a good match, you may take immunosuppressive medicines such as antithymocyte globulin (ATG), cyclosporine or tacrolimus, and thrombopoietin receptor agonist eltrombopag.

What deficiency causes aplastic anemia?

Many cases of anemia stem from an iron deficiency. These types of anemia are easily treatable. However, aplastic anemia starts with a bone marrow problem and it is not caused by iron deficiency. The condition is rare, but it can be fatal if left untreated.