Aplastic anemia is a disease.

Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
Updated on September 29, 2024
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Aplastic anemia is a bone marrow failure syndrome, which simply means that the bone marrow's function to produce blood cells is impaired, and it cannot produce the blood cells needed by a normal body. Clinically, it manifests as a series of symptoms caused by the reduction of all blood cells. A reduction in white blood cells can lead to infections in various systems, such as fever, cough, sputum, abdominal pain, diarrhea, frequent urination, urgent urination, and pain during urination. A reduction in red blood cells leads to anemia, which can cause symptoms such as dizziness, headache, fatigue, chest tightness, and palpitations. A decrease in platelets can lead to spontaneous bleeding, such as bleeding in the mouth, gums, and nose, and in severe cases, even cerebral hemorrhage.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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Is aplastic anemia leukemia?

Aplastic anemia is not leukemia, but there is a very small chance that aplastic anemia can transform into leukemia. Aplastic anemia is a bone marrow failure syndrome, and its clinical presentation often includes pancytopenia. It can be classified into acute aplastic anemia and chronic aplastic anemia. Leukemia often manifests with high white blood cell counts, anemia, and low platelet counts. It is caused by the infiltration of leukemia cells into the bone marrow, leading to the suppression of normal hematopoiesis, and is classified as a malignant hematological tumor. Leukemia can be divided into acute leukemia and chronic leukemia.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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Aplastic anemia is a disease.

Aplastic anemia is a bone marrow failure syndrome, which simply means that the bone marrow's function to produce blood cells is impaired, and it cannot produce the blood cells needed by a normal body. Clinically, it manifests as a series of symptoms caused by the reduction of all blood cells. A reduction in white blood cells can lead to infections in various systems, such as fever, cough, sputum, abdominal pain, diarrhea, frequent urination, urgent urination, and pain during urination. A reduction in red blood cells leads to anemia, which can cause symptoms such as dizziness, headache, fatigue, chest tightness, and palpitations. A decrease in platelets can lead to spontaneous bleeding, such as bleeding in the mouth, gums, and nose, and in severe cases, even cerebral hemorrhage.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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Aplastic anemia is classified into several types.

Aplastic anemia is divided into two types: acute aplastic anemia and chronic aplastic anemia. Acute aplastic anemia presents suddenly and is severe. Treatment requires intensified immunotherapy or suppression of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Chronic aplastic anemia develops slowly, has a longer history, and is relatively less severe. The treatment for chronic aplastic anemia mainly involves immunotherapy combined with therapy to promote hematopoiesis. In addition, regardless of the type, all cases of aplastic anemia require regular complete blood count checks and, when necessary, supportive treatment with red blood cell and platelet transfusions.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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What medicine is used for aplastic anemia?

Aplastic anemia, whether acute or chronic, primarily uses immunosuppressive agents and hematopoietic stimulants for treatment. Cyclosporine is commonly used clinically among immunosuppressants, while the medicines stimulating bone marrow hematopoiesis mainly include androgens such as danazol and stanozolol. These medications all have associated adverse reactions: immunosuppressants can lead to hypertension, hyperglycemia, impaired liver and kidney function, and gum hypertrophy, while the main adverse reactions of hematopoietic androgens are liver damage. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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What causes aplastic anemia?

Aplastic anemia's exact causes are still not completely clear. Clinically, it is believed that immune dysfunction is a significant factor associated with aplastic anemia. Most cases of aplastic anemia can achieve good therapeutic outcomes through immunosuppressive treatment, which indirectly supports this view. However, some scholars believe that in aplastic anemia, there are patients for whom immunosuppressive treatment is ineffective. This suggests that other factors might exist, such as congenital anomalies in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, or abnormalities in the hematopoietic microenvironment, which may also play a role in the development of aplastic anemia.