Aplastic anemia

Aplastic anemia

Updated: 7/18/2024

© Jun Wang, MD, PhD

 

General features

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

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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Anemia

Lymphoid neoplasms