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CareNotes System - Aplastic Anemia (General Information)
Aplastic Anemia
GENERAL INFORMATION:
What is it? Bone marrow is the spongy red tissue inside bones. The bone marrow makes red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets. RBCs carry oxygen to all the organs and tissues of your body. White blood cells (WBCs) help your body fight infection (in-FEK-shun) by attacking and killing germs. Platelets stop the bleeding when you are cut or injured. When your bone marrow cannot make enough RBCs, WBCs, and platelets, you have aplastic anemia (ah-NEE-mee-uh).
What causes aplastic anemia? The exact cause of aplastic anemia is not known. You may have aplastic anemia because of one of the following:
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Congenital aplastic anemia: This is a condition where you are born with a problem in your genes (JEENS). Genes are found in every cell of your body. Genes make you who you are. They give you hair and eye color, your personality, and the type of health you will have. The genes you were born with may cause you to develop aplastic anemia.
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Acquired aplastic anemia: This condition is caused by something that happens sometime in your life after you are born. One of the following things may have damaged (hurt) your bone marrow and caused your aplastic anemia:
- You were exposed to high amounts of radiation (ray-dee-AY-shun) or chemotherapy (kee-moh-THER-ah-pee). Chemotherapy is medicine used to treat cancer.
- You were exposed to certain chemicals, such as benzene. You worked with or were exposed to insecticides or pesticides, such as DDT.
- You took certain medicines.
- You had an infection (in-FEK-shun) caused by a virus (germ).
- Your body's immune (i-MUN) system (normally fights infections that come into your body) fights against your body.
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Idiopathic aplastic anemia: Sometimes caregivers do not know why or how a person got aplastic anemia. If you and your caregivers do not know the cause, you may have idiopathic aplastic anemia.
What are the signs and symptoms of aplastic anemia? You may have one or more of the following signs and symptoms depending on which blood cells are low.
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You may have a low energy level. You may feel tired and weak, be dizzy, and have pale (lighter than usual) skin. You may also have shortness of breath while exercising.
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You may have bleeding problems. You may have:
- Bruising a lot.
- Bleeding from your gums, nose, or into your skin. You may have blood in your BMs or urine.
- Bleeding that takes longer to stop. When you get a cut or injury, you may bleed longer or more than usual.
- Menstrual (monthly) periods that are not normal.
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You may feel pain or discomfort. You may have headaches or a fever. You may may an upset stomach or vomiting (throwing up).
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You may get more infections than usual. You may get colds or infections (in-FEK-shuns) that do not get better or keep coming back.
How is aplastic anemia diagnosed? You may have blood tests to learn which types of your blood cells are low. You may also have a bone marrow biopsy. During this procedure, a needle is put into your hip bone. A small amount of bone marrow (spongy, red center of the bone) is taken out. Caregivers will look at the bone marrow under a microscope (MI-kroh-skohp).
How is aplastic anemia treated? Your other medicines or treatments may be stopped if they are causing your aplastic anemia. You may be given many blood transfusions (trans-FU-zhuns). You may also be given medicine to try to help your bone marrow start working. You may have a bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant. Stem cells are the part of the bone marrow that actually make the RBCs, WBCs, and platelets. During a transplant procedure, bone marrow or stem cells are put in your blood through an IV. The stem cells should go to your bone marrow and begin making new blood cells.
Where can I go for support? Accepting that you have aplastic anemia is hard. You and those close to you may feel scared, depressed (very sad), or angry. These are normal feelings. Talk to your caregivers, family, or friends about your feelings. You may also want to join an aplastic anemia support group. This is a group of people who also have this kind of anemia. Call or write the following organization for more information:
- Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 613
Annapolis, MD 21404-0613
Phone: 1-800-747-2820
Web Address: http://www.aplastic.org
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
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