What Is Aplastic Anemia?
Aplastic anemia (a-PLAS-tik uh-NEE-me-uh) is a blood
disorder in which the body's bone marrow doesn't make enough new blood cells.
Bone marrow is a sponge-like tissue inside the bones. It makes stem cells that
develop into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets (PLATE-lets).
Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of your
body. They also remove carbon dioxide (a waste product) from your body's cells
and carry it to the lungs to be exhaled. White blood cells help your body fight
infections. Platelets are blood cell fragments that stick together to seal
small cuts or breaks on blood vessel walls and stop bleeding.
It's normal for blood cells to die. The lifespan of
red blood cells is about 120 days. White blood cells live less than 1 day.
Platelets live about 6 days. As a result, your bone marrow must constantly make
new blood cells.
If your bone marrow is unable to make enough new
blood cells, a number of health problems can occur. These include
arrhythmias
(ah-RITH-me-ahs), an enlarged heart,
heart
failure, infections, and bleeding. Severe aplastic anemia can even cause
death.
Overview
Aplastic anemia is a type of
anemia.
The term "anemia" usually refers to a condition in which your blood has a lower
than normal number of red blood cells. Anemia also can occur if your red blood
cells don't contain enough hemoglobin (HEE-muh-glow-bin). This iron-rich
protein helps carry oxygen to your body.
In people who have aplastic anemia, the body doesn't
make enough red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. This is because
the bone marrow's stem cells are damaged. (Aplastic anemia also is sometimes
called bone marrow failure.)
A number of diseases, conditions, and factors can
cause damage to the stem cells. These causes can be acquired or inherited.
"Acquired" means you aren't born with the condition, but you develop it.
"Inherited" means your parents passed the gene for the condition on to you.
In more than half of the people who have aplastic
anemia, the cause is unknown.
Outlook
Aplastic anemia is a rare, but serious disorder. In
the United States, about 500-1,000 people develop this type of anemia each
year. The disorder is two to three times more common in Asian countries.
Aplastic anemia can develop suddenly or slowly. It
tends to get worse over time, unless its cause is found and treated. Treatments
for aplastic anemia include
blood
transfusions,
blood
and marrow stem cell transplants, and medicines.
With prompt and proper care, many people who have
aplastic anemia can be successfully treated. Blood and marrow stem cell
transplants may offer a cure for some people who have aplastic anemia.
February 2009 |