Aplastic anemia is a condition that occurs when your body stops producing enough new blood cells. This makes you tired, more susceptible to infections, and even uncontrollable bleeding.
Aplastic anemia is a rare but serious condition that can occur at any age. It can occur suddenly, or appear slowly and get worse over time.
Symptoms of aplastic anemia
Aplastic anemia can be asymptomatic. When present, signs and symptoms may include:
- Fatigue
- Skin rash
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Pale skin
- Rapid or irregular heart rate
- Frequent or prolonged infections
- Unexplained or easy bruising
- Nosebleeds and bleeding gums
- Prolonged wound bleeding
Aplastic anemia may be transient or may become chronic. It can be severe, even fatal.
Causes of aplastic anemia
Stem cells in the bone marrow produce blood cells - red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. In aplastic anemia, the stem cells are damaged. As a result, the bone marrow is empty (aplastic) or contains a small number of blood cells (dysplasia).
The most common cause of aplastic anemia is that your immune system attacks the stem cells in your bone marrow. Other factors that can harm the bone marrow and affect blood cell production include.
Radiation and chemotherapy treatments. While these anti-cancer treatments kill cancer cells, they can also damage healthy cells, including the stem cells in your bone marrow. Aplastic anemia may be a temporary side effect of these treatments.
Exposure to toxic chemicals. Toxic chemicals, such as some chemicals used in pesticides and insecticides, and benzene, an ingredient in gasoline, have been linked to aplastic anemia. This type of anemia may improve if you avoid repeated exposure to the chemicals that caused you to get sick.
Use of certain medications. Some medications, such as those used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and some antibiotics, can cause aplastic anemia.
Autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases, in which your immune system attacks healthy cells, may involve the stem cells in your bone marrow.
Viral infections. Viral infections that affect the bone marrow may play a role in the development of aplastic anemia. Viruses associated with aplastic anemia include hepatitis, Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus, B19 minivirus and HIV.
Pregnancy. During pregnancy, your immune system may attack your bone marrow.
Unknown factors. In many cases, doctors are unable to determine the cause of aplastic anemia (idiopathic aplastic anemia).
Links to other rare diseases
Some people with aplastic anemia also have a rare condition called paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, which causes premature breakdown of red blood cells. This condition may lead to aplastic anemia, or aplastic anemia may evolve into paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.
Fanconi anemia is a rare genetic disorder that causes aplastic anemia. Children with the disease tend to be smaller than average and have birth defects, such as underdeveloped limbs. The disease is diagnosed with the help of blood tests.
Risk factors
Aplastic anemia is rare. Factors that can increase the risk include
- High-dose radiation therapy or cancer chemotherapy
- Toxic chemicals
- Use of some prescription drugs - such as chloramphenicol for bacterial infections and gold compounds used to treat rheumatoid arthritis
- Certain blood disorders, autoimmune diseases and serious infections
- Pregnancy.
How to prevent it?
There are no preventive measures for most cases of aplastic anemia. Avoid exposure to pesticides, herbicides, organic solvents, paint removers, and other toxic chemicals