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Aplastic anemia occurs when the bone marrow produces too few of all types of blood cells:
red cells, white cells, and platelets. A reduced number of red blood cells causes the
hemoglobin (a type of protein in the red blood cells that carries oxygen to the tissues of the
body) to drop. A reduced number of white blood cells cause the patient to be susceptible to
infection. A reduced number of platelets can cause the blood not to clot as easily as normal.
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What causes Aplastic Anemia?
Aplastic anemia in children has multiple causes, but many causes are "idiopathic," meaning
they occur sporadically for no known reason. Other causes are secondary, resulting from a
previous illness or disorder.
Acquired causes may include: a history of specific infectious diseases such as hepatitis,
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, cytomegalovirus (CMV), or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a
history of taking certain medications, exposure to certain toxins such as heavy metals,
exposure to radiation, or a history of an autoimmune disease such as lupus.
Children may also inherit a disorder that predisposes them to developing aplastic anemia.
Some examples include:
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Fanconi anemia
Dyskeratosis congenita
Shwachman-Diamond syndrome
Reticular dysgenesis
Familial aplastic anemias
The following are the most common symptoms of aplastic anemia. However, each child may
experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
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How is Aplastic Anemia diagnosed?
blood tests
bone marrow aspiration and biopsy - marrow may be removed by aspiration or a
needle biopsy under local anesthesia. In a bone marrow aspiration, a fluid specimen is
removed from the bone marrow. In a needle biopsy, marrow cells (not fluid) are
removed. These methods are often used together.
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What is the treatment for Aplastic Anemia?
Specific treatment for aplastic anemia will be determined by your child's physician based
on:
Bone marrow transplant At present, this is the only cure for aplastic anemia.
Bone marrow transplant involves the replacement of diseased bone marrow with
another person's healthy bone marrow. Unfortunately it may not be an option for
everyone. The decision to proceed with bone marrow transplant should be discussed
with your child's Hematologist and a Bone Marrow Transplant Team.
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In addition to providing information and access to local and national research initiatives, this
outpatient clinic offers multidisciplinary care (physician specialists, dentists, nurse
practitioners, social workers) and consultative services for patients with inherited (genetic)
and acquired bone marrow failure syndromes, including Aplastic Anemia. This clinic is part
of the outpatient Hematology service and functions in conjunction with Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute and the Bone Marrow Transplant Service.
Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Researchers are actively collecting
samples of blood and bone marrow (voluntary) from patients with Aplastic Anemia and other
bone marrow failure syndromes in order to better understand genetic material, molecular
aspects of the diseases, and clinical outcomes of patients.
Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation, Inc.
This foundation, formed in 1983 by concerned parents and medical professionals, maintains
a patient registry of children, adolescents, and adults with aplastic anemia. Enrollment is
voluntary and serves to help researchers compile data about the disease. For more
information, including information about clinical trials, please go towww.aplastic.org.