Aplastic Anemia Definition, Reason, Symptom, Treatment, Prevention
Aplastic Anemia Definition
Aplastic anemia is a condition that occurs when the body does not produce enough blood cells. Aplastic anemia can cause a person to experience excessive fatigue with a higher risk of infection and uncontrolled bleeding.
As a rare and serious condition, aplastic anemia can occur at any age. Aplastic anemia can occur suddenly or slowly, and get worse over time. Treatment for aplastic anemia may include medication, blood transfusions, or a stem cell transplant, also known as a bone marrow transplant.
Aplastic Anemia Reason
Aplastic anemia occurs when there is damage to the bone marrow that slows or stops the production of new blood cells. Bone marrow is a material with a similar consistency and red color, which is found on the inside of the bone and functions to produce stem cells, which produce various other cells.
Stem cells found in the bone marrow produce blood cells, namely red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. In aplastic anemia, the bone marrow is classified as aplastic (which means it doesn’t contain) or hypoplastic (it contains few cells).
There are several factors that can temporarily or permanently cause bone marrow injury and affect blood cell production, including:
- Radiation treatment and chemotherapy. This type of treatment can help kill cancer cells, but can sometimes also damage healthy cells, including stem cells found in the bone marrow. Aplastic anemia can be one of the side effects of this medication.
- Exposure to hazardous chemicals. Exposure to harmful chemicals, such as those used in some pesticides and insecticides, can lead to aplastic anemia.
Anemia caused by this cause can be improved by avoiding exposure to the chemical that first causes the disease.
- Use of certain drugs. Some medications, such as those used to treat rheumatoid arthritis or certain antibiotic medications, can cause aplastic anemia.
- Autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases, in which the body’s immune system can attack healthy body cells, can also involve stem cells found in the bone marrow.
- Viral infection. Viral infections that affect the bone marrow can also play a role in the development of aplastic anemia in some people. Viruses associated with aplastic anemia include hepatitis virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B19, and HIV.
- unknown factor. In quite a number of cases, doctors have difficulty identifying the cause of aplastic anemia. This condition is known as idiopathic aplastic anemia.
Aplastic anemia is a fairly rare disease. Some factors that can increase the risk of this condition are:
- Treatment with high doses of radiation or chemotherapy for cancer
- Exposure to harmful chemicals
- Use of certain drugs
- Presence of certain blood diseases, autoimmune diseases, or other serious infections
Aplastic Anemia Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of aplastic anemia can include:
- Fatigue
- Hard to breathe
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Pale skin
- Frequent or recurring infections
- Easy to bruise
- Prolonged bleeding
- Skin rash
- Feeling dizzy
- Headache
Aplastic anemia can progress slowly over weeks to months, or it can develop suddenly. In very severe aplastic anemia, this condition can be life-threatening.
Aplastic Anemia Diagnosis
Aplastic anemia can be determined based on a detailed medical interview, direct physical examination, and certain investigations. To diagnose aplastic anemia, your doctor may recommend:
- Blood test. In general, the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are in a certain range. Doctors can suspect aplastic anemia if all three types of blood cells have very low numbers.
- Bone marrow biopsy. To confirm the diagnosis, a bone marrow biopsy may be performed.
In this procedure, the doctor uses a needle to remove a small sample of bone marrow from a large bone in the body, such as the pelvis. The bone marrow sample is then examined under a microscope to rule out other blood diseases.
In aplastic anemia, the bone marrow contains fewer blood cells than normal
Once a person has been diagnosed with aplastic anemia, further tests may be needed to determine the underlying cause.
Aplastic Anemia Handling
Treatment for aplastic anemia includes observation for mild cases, blood transfusions, and treatment for moderate cases, or bone marrow transplantation that is assessed as severe. Severe aplastic anemia, in which the blood cell count is very low, can be life-threatening and requires immediate hospitalization.
Treatment for aplastic anemia generally includes:
- Blood transfusion. Blood transfusions can be done to control bleeding and treat the symptoms of anemia.
Blood transfusions are not a cure for aplastic anemia. However, this procedure can treat signs and symptoms by supplying blood cells that are not produced enough by the bone marrow.
The transfusion given may include red blood cells or platelets.
- Stem cell transplant. Stem cell transplantation to build bone marrow with donor-acquired stem cells can be beneficial for individuals with severe aplastic anemia.
Stem cell transplantation, which may also be referred to as a bone marrow transplant, is generally the type of treatment of choice in people who are relatively young and have a suitable donor, often a sibling.
- In people who cannot undergo a bone marrow transplant or who have aplastic anemia due to an autoimmune disease, treatment may include medications that alter or suppress the immune system.
- Bone marrow stimulation. Certain medications, such as colony-stimulating factors, can help stimulate the bone marrow to produce new blood cells.
- Antibiotics or antivirals. Having aplastic anemia can make your immune system weaker. People with this condition generally have fewer white blood cells to fight germs, which makes them more susceptible to infection.
In people with severe aplastic anemia, doctors may consider giving antibiotic or antiviral treatment if deemed necessary.
Aplastic Anemia Prevention
In general, there is no effective prevention method for most cases of aplastic anemia. Avoiding exposure to insecticides, herbicides, organic chemicals, paint remover, or other harmful substances can reduce the risk of developing the disease.