What tests should be done to diagnose aplastic anemia?

Written by Zhang Xiao Le
Hematology
Updated on November 12, 2024
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The diagnostic criteria for aplastic anemia include a decrease in all blood cells, generally no enlargement of the liver or spleen, reduced or severe reduction in bone marrow hyperplasia in multiple sites, and exclusion of other diseases causing a decrease in all blood cells. Therefore, the diagnosis of aplastic anemia requires the following tests: complete blood count, reticulocyte count, abdominal ultrasound, bone marrow cytology, bone marrow chromosome analysis, bone marrow biopsy, rheumatoid immune indicators, and peripheral blood T-cell subgroups. Additionally, for patients suspected of having aplastic anemia, further flow cytometry and differentiation from myelodysplastic syndromes are sometimes necessary.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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Is aplastic anemia serious?

Whether aplastic anemia is severe depends on the specific circumstances of the aplastic anemia. Aplastic anemia can be divided into acute aplastic anemia and chronic aplastic anemia. Among them, acute aplastic anemia has a sudden onset, more severe clinical symptoms, and a higher mortality rate, so it is relatively more severe. Chronic aplastic anemia has a slower onset, and the degree of decrease in blood cells is relatively mild, also making it less severe. However, in cases of acute aplastic anemia, if intensive immunotherapy is administered, the effectiveness can reach 60%-70%, and it can be cured through hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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Can aplastic anemia be cured?

Aplastic anemia is divided into acute aplastic anemia and chronic aplastic anemia. Acute aplastic anemia can be cured by intensive immunotherapy or syngeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, not all cases of acute aplastic anemia can be cured by these two treatments, with the cure rate being approximately 60%-70%. For chronic aplastic anemia, the main treatment currently is oral immunosuppressive therapy, which usually cannot cure the condition unless allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is performed. However, if patients with chronic aplastic anemia are on oral immunosuppressive therapy, they can maintain a relatively good condition and typically do not opt for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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Aplastic anemia is caused by how?

The etiology of aplastic anemia is unclear. A more classical theory is the seed, soil, and bug theory. The seed theory suggests that patients with this condition have reduced hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow, leading to bone marrow failure. The soil theory refers to abnormal microenvironments in the bone marrow of patients, which leads to an abnormal growth environment for stem cells and consequently hematopoietic disturbances. The bug theory, which is commonly referred to in clinical settings as immune dysfunction, plays a major role in the etiology of this condition.

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Written by Zhang Xiao Le
Hematology
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Is it good to transfuse platelets for aplastic anemia with low platelets?

Aplastic anemia is a type of bone marrow failure syndrome, with patients often experiencing a decrease in all blood cells in the peripheral blood. As a result, patients typically face a higher risk of infections and bleeding. Treatment for aplastic anemia is a long-term process, and hematopoiesis often cannot be restored quickly. Therefore, especially in severe cases of aplastic anemia, patients' blood cells remain at relatively low levels for an extended period, placing them at severe risk of infections and bleeding. If platelets fall below 20*10^9/L, it is necessary to administer platelet transfusions to prevent severe bleeding.

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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.