Monday, May 20, 2013

Idiopathic aplastic anemia

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Anemia - idiopathic aplastic


Symptoms

Symptoms are the result of bone marrow failure and the loss of blood cell production.

Low red cell count (anemia) can cause:

  • Fatigue
  • Pallor (paleness)
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Shortness of breath with exercise
  • Weakness

Low white cell count (leukopenia) causes an increased risk of infection.

Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) results in bleeding, especially of the mucous membranes and skin. Symptoms include:

  • Bleeding gums
  • Easy bruising
  • Frequent or severe infections
  • Nose bleeds
  • Rash--small pinpoint red marks on the skin (petechiae)

Signs and tests

The health care provider will perform a physical exam.

Blood tests will show:

  • Low red blood cell count (anemia)
  • Low white blood cell count
  • Low reticulocyte count (reticulocytes are immature red blood cell)
  • Low platelet count

A bone marrow biopsy shows fewer-than-normal blood cells.


Review Date: 02/28/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)