Aplastic anemia (bone marrow aplasia) is caused by dysfunction of stem cells. Bone marrow damage causes reduced production of red and white blood cells and platelets, leading to anemia. What are the symptoms of aplastic anemia and how to treat it effectively?

Aplastic anemiais caused by a malfunction of stem cells in the bone marrow. Aplastic anemia results from the loss of the bone marrow tissue by replacing it with connective or fatty tissue, which causes the loss of all parts of the blood. Marrow aplasia may be spontaneous, caused by a genetic defect (Fanconi anemia), or secondary - caused by external factors.

Fanconi Anemia. Check the symptoms of congenital anemia

External causes of aplastic anemia

  • radiotherapy;
  • insecticides and herbicides;
  • benze; ​​
  • viral infections (parvovirus B19, HIV, HBV, HCV);
  • some medications (chloramphenicol, methotrexate, gold s alts, penicillamine);
  • pregnancy - night paroxysmal hemoglobinuria (Marchiafava-Michelie syndrome);
  • systemic connective tissue diseases.

Aplastic anemia - symptoms

Aplastic anemia results from a deficiency of all blood components (white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets):

1. reducing the number of red blood cells causes weakness and breathlessness;

2. deficiency of white blood cells increases the patient's susceptibility to infection and fever;

3. lack of an adequate number of platelets causes bleeding, ecchymosis on the skin and mucous membranes.

What deficiencies indicate aplastic anemia

A diagnosis of aplastic anemia can be made when at least two of the following symptoms are present:

  • neutropenia,
  • thrombocytopenia,
  • reticulocytopenia.

Apart from these changes, a bone marrow puncture is necessary for diagnosis. The demonstrated reduction in hematopoietic cells to less than 30% and the increased amount of adipose tissue and decreased megakaryocytes are symptoms of aplastic anemia.

Treatment of aplastic anemia

The development of aplastic anemia can be very rapid,but not always - it sometimes takes a long time to develop without practically any symptoms. In the acute form of the disease, treatment is complicated and the mortality rate of patients (especially younger ones) is high.

In younger patients (up to 40 years of age) anemia is treated with bone marrow transplants. Cure is obtained from 60 to 90% of cases. Cyclophosphamide with ATG is administered to the elderly. Treatment with androgens is effective in Fanconi's anemia and in acquired forms of anemia.

Category:

Cardiology