Secondary aplastic anemia

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Blood types

Bone marrow aspiration

Anemia - secondary aplastic; Acquired aplastic anemia

In secondary aplastic anemia, removal of the cause is critical, and in some cases can lead to recovery.

Mild cases of aplastic anemia may be treated with supportive care or may require no treatment. Blood transfusions and platelet transfusions will help correct the abnormal blood counts and relieve some symptoms, in moderate cases.

Severe aplastic anemia, which shows up as a very low blood-cell count, is a life-threatening condition. A bone marrow transplant is indicated for younger patients with a severe case of the disease. For older patients, or for those who do not have a matched bone marrow donor, antithymocyte globulin (ATG) is the alternative treatment.

ATG is a horse serum that contains antibodies against human T cells. It is used in an attempt to suppress the body's immune system, allowing the bone marrow to resume its blood-cell generating function. Other medications to suppress the immune system may be used, such as cyclosporine and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). Corticosteroids and androgens have also been used.

Untreated aplastic anemia is an illness that leads to rapid death. Bone marrow transplant has been successful in young people, with a long-term survival rate of 80%. Older people have a survival rate of 40 - 70%.

• Infection
• Bleeding in the brain
• Death caused by bleeding, infectious complications of bone marrow transplant, rejection of bone marrow graft, or severe reaction to ATG

Call your health care provider if bleeding occurs for no reason.

Review Date: 10/30/2006
Reviewed By: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.