Aplastic anemia
Aplastic anemia
Updated: 7/18/2024
© Jun Wang, MD, PhD
General features
- May be inherited or acquired
- Associated with primary defects or damage of hematopoietic stem cells
- Peripheral pancytopenia and marrow hypoplasia
- May transform into other hematopoietic disorders, such as Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and related neoplasms
Major causes
- Acquired
o Idiopathic
o Acquired stem cell defects
o Immune mediated
o Chemical Agents
§ Dose related: Alkylating agents, antimetabolites, benzene, chloramphenicol, inorganic arsenicals
§ Idiosyncratic: Chloramphenicol, phenylbutazone, organic arsenicals, methylphenylethylhydantoin, carbamazepine, penicillamine, Gold salts
o Physical Agents
§ Whole-body irradiation
o Viral infections: Hepatitis (unknown virus), CMV, EBV, herpes
- Inherited: Fanconi anemia, telomerase defects
- Acquired or inherited: Pure red cell aplasia
Key pathogenesis
- Bone marrow failure
- Stem cells reduced in quantity and loss in function
- Pancytopenia
o
RBC: Anemia, normocytic or macrocytic
o WBC: Infection
o Platelet: Bleeding
Key Laboratory findings
- Pancytopenia
- Hypoplastic bone marrow
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