APLASTIC

ANEMIA
Presented by:
DEOMICAH D. SOLANO
BMLS 4-C
I. Definition

 Aplastic anemia is a condition in which there is a

peripheral blood pancytopenia, which is defined as
a decrease in all cellular constituents: leukocytes,
erythrocytes, and platelets.
 The bone marrow in aplastic anemia is, by
definition, severely hypoplastic or aplastic

Characterized by:
 Replacement of bone marrow with fat
 Peripheral pancytopenia
II. Occurrence
 A rare and serious condition, aplastic anemia, can develop in all ages and in both
genders. It may occur suddenly, or it can occur slowly and get worse over a long
period of time.
 III. Etiology

Primary Secondary  
 Congenital Fanconi Anemia  Drugs  Radiation & Chemotherapy
 Idiopathic • Chloramphenicol  Infectious diseases
• Phenytoin • Hepatitis
• Antibiotics • EBV
• Gold • Cytomegalovirus
 Chemicals • Parvovirus
• Benzene • HIV
• Toluene  Autoimmune disorders
 Insecticides • Lupus
• Chlordane • Rheumatoid arthritis
• Chlorophenothane  PNH
• Lindane  Pregnancy
 
IV. Clinical Signs and symptoms
 
Anemia Leukopenia Thrombocytopenia
 Fatigue  Fever  Red spots
 lethargy  Infections  Hemorrage
 Shortness of breath  Flu-like infections  Easy bruising
 Dizziness  Petechiae
 Pallor  Nosebleeds and bleeding gums
 Pale skin
 Headache
V. Diagnosis

Results
Most frequently required Complete blood count
Platelet count
Reticulocyte count (with RPI)
Bone marrow biopsy (Tissue) Hypoplastic or aplastic; fat;
Bone marrow aspirate (Fluid) hematopoietic cells
 
 A hypocellular marrow where fat has
Normal marrow replaced normal hematopoietic cells
VI. Treatment
 Supportive Care
• Blood transfusions
• Antibiotics
 Immunosuppressive Drug Therapy
- Immunosuppressive drug therapy lowers your body's immune response. This
prevents your immune system from attacking your bone marrow, lets stem cells grow
back, and raises blood counts.
 Bone marrow transplantation
VII. Prognosis
 

 The two-year mortality rate with supportive care alone for patients with aplastic
anemia is about 80%; invasive fungal infections and overwhelming bacterial sepsis
are the most common causes of death. 

 Improvements in bone marrow transplantation and immunosuppression have

increased the number of long-term survivors of patients with aplastic anemia.

 Prognosis is usually good if bone marrow transplantation is done.

 5 key words on aplastic anemia:

1 Aplastic anemia is a condition in which there is a peripheral blood pancytopenia.

2 Bone marrow in aplastic anemia is hypoplastic or aplastic.

3 In most cases, the common cause of aplastic anemia is idiopathic (60-70%) although drugs,
chemicals & radiation may cause aplastic anemia also.

4 Usually, the diagnosis of aplastic anemia is CBC, bone marrow aspirate and bone marrow biopsy.

The only cure for aplastic anemia is Bone marrow transplantation although other treatment may be
5 given to manage the symptoms of aplastic anemia.
Thank you.