Aplastic anemia Symptoms

Body inability to produce blood cells in sufficient numbers is attributed to a disease known as Aplastic anemia. Despite being a common disease among elderly patients, it is more frequent among teens. Simply, the bone marrow for patients with aplastic anemia losses its cells where it got replaced with fat cells. This will lead to a deficiency in all blood cell types including red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells.

Aplastic anemia could be inherited. Additionally, it was attributed in some cases to viral infection especially hepatitis. In addition to pancytopenia (Low blood cells counts), aplastic anemia is characterized by several symptoms like:

1. Prolonged bleeding from cuts
2. Shortness of breath
3. Rapid or irregular heart rate
4. Frequent or prolonged infections
5. Unexplained or easy bruising
6. Nosebleeds and bleeding gums
7. Fatigue
8. Fever
9. Skin rash
10. Dizziness
11. Headache
12. Pale skin

Diagnosis of aplastic anemia is simple and include a blood test and bone marrow biopsy which is an invasive procedure.

Treatments for aplastic anemia depends on the severity and patient’s age. Treatment includes:

1. Blood transfusion to raise red blood cells and platelets count.
2. Stem cell transplantation for those who has a matching donor.
3. Immunosuppressants for those who had Stem cell transplantation
4. Antibiotic and antivirals to prevent infection as the body doesn’t produce enough white blood cells.

August 2014, eltrombopag was approved by FDA approved for the treatment of patients with severe aplastic anemia who have had an insufficient response to immunosuppressive therapy. Additionally, in 2018, it was approved by FDA in combination with standard immunosuppressive therapy for the first-line treatment of adult and pediatric patients 2 years and older with severe aplastic anemia.