Anemia, Aplastic Last updated: Oct 09, 2008

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  Anemia, Aplastic  
 

 
Signs, symptoms and indicators | Conditions that suggest it | Contributing risk factors | It can lead to...

 
 

Aplastic anemia is a rare disease consisting of pancytopenia which affects primarily young men and older persons of both genders. 2 to 6 people per million worldwide develop this disorder annually, with an obvious prevalence in the Orient as compared to either Europe or the United States. A variety of associations have been made in the attempt to find a specific cause, but no one cause can be identified. Treatment must be instituted promptly after diagnosis to avoid fatality. Patients treated successfully for aplastic anemia then have a higher risk of developing other diseases later in life, including cancer.

 
 

Signs, symptoms & indicators of Anemia, Aplastic:
 
 
Lab Values - Cells  Low lymphocyte count
  (Very) low white cell count
  Low red blood cell count

Counter-indicators:
  Normal/high red blood cell count
  Normal/high white cell count
 
 

Conditions that suggest Anemia, Aplastic:
 
 
Lab Values  Low Platelet Count
 
 

Risk factors for Anemia, Aplastic:
 
 
Tumors, Malignant  Leukemia
 Anemia, a deficiency of red cells, develops in almost all leukemia patients. With some kinds, such as T-cell LGL leukemia, only about 50% are found to be anemic.
 
 

Anemia, Aplastic can lead to:
 
 
Lab Values  Low Platelet Count
 
 


KEY
Weak or unproven link
Strong or generally accepted link
Proven definite or direct link
Weakly counter-indicative

David called his mother in Florida.
He said to his mother, "Ma, how are you doing?"
She said, "Oy, not too good. I've been very weak."
David then asked, "Why are you so weak?"
She said, "Because I haven't eaten in 38 days."
David then asked, "Ma, how come you haven't eaten in 38 days.?"
She said, "Because I didn't want my mouth to be filled with food when you called."





GLOSSARY

Anemia:  A condition resulting from an unusually low number of red blood cells or too little hemoglobin in the red blood cells. The most common type is iron-deficiency anemia in which the red blood cells are reduced in size and number, and hemoglobin levels are low. Clinical symptoms include shortness of breath, lethargy and heart palpitations.

Aplastic Anemia:  Anemia caused by failure of red blood cells to regenerate.

Cancer:  Refers to the various types of malignant neoplasms that contain cells growing out of control and invading adjacent tissues, which may metastasize to distant tissues.

Leukemia:  Cancer of the lymph glands and bone marrow resulting in overproduction of white blood cells (related to Hodgkin's disease).

Pancytopenia:  A condition in which there are less cells in a person's blood. There are less red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. A person with pancytopenia may be tired, bleed easily and get infections easily.

T-Cell:  T cells are lymphocytes that are produced in the bone marrow and mature in the thymus. T cells are responsible for mediating the second branch of the immune system called "cellular immune response." T cells can live for months to years. This lymphocyte population is defined by the presence of a rearranged T-cell receptor.