Aplastic anemia occurs when the bone marrow stops making enough blood-forming stem cells. Patients with aplastic anemia typically have low blood cell counts in all three blood lines: red cells, white cells, and platelets.The major causes of mortality from aplastic anemia include infection and hemorrhage. Although aplastic anemia can appear at any age, it is diagnosed more often in children and young adults.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) occurs when the bone marrow and stem cells malfunction. This results in the production of too many defective blood cells and not enough normal blood cells. Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes have low blood cell counts in at least one or more of the three blood lines: red cells, white cells, and platelets. MDS occurs more frequently in older people, but it can occur in children too.
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) occurs when abnormal blood-forming stem cells produce red cells with a defective protective layer. An abnormal platelet function is also detectable among patients with PNH. Patients with PNH have low red blood cells counts caused by the destruction of red blood cells in the blood stream. Red blood cell destruction often causes the urine to become dark or red in color. The patient may experience other symptoms, such as back pain, easy bruising of the skin, blood clots, abdominal discomfort, and liver failure.
By the Numbers
50-75%: Percent of cases of childhood Aplastic anemia that occur for no known reason.
60-80%: Remission rates for Aplastic anemia now.
30%: Remission rates for Aplastic anemia a decade ago.
20%: 2-year survival rate for Aplastic anemia in 1970.
10,000: Number of people diagnosed in the US, per year, with diseases that are cured by bone marrow transplant.
70%: Percentage of those patients who will not find a donor in their families, and will have to rely on the kindness of an anonymous donor.
Every 17 minutes: How often someone in the US is diagnosed with a bone marrow disease.
1-3 per million: Incidence of Aplastic anemia in the general population of the US.