Acquired Aplastic Anemia / Disease

Diseases & Conditions

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Acquired Aplastic Anemia

Synonyms of Acquired Aplastic Anemia

Idiopathic Aplastic Anemia

Disorder Subdivisions

General Discussion
Acquired aplastic anemia is a rare disorder caused by profound, almost complete bone marrow failure. Bone marrow is the spongy substance found in the center of the long bones of the body. The bone marrow produces specialized cells (hematopoietic stem cells) that grow and eventually develop into red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets. In acquired aplastic anemia, an almost complete absence of hematopoietic stem cells eventually results in low levels of red and white blood cells and platelets (pancytopenia). Specific symptoms associated with acquired aplastic anemia may vary, but include fatigue, chronic infections, dizziness, weakness, headaches, and episodes of excessive bleeding. Although some cases of acquired aplastic anemia occur secondary to other disorders, researchers now believe that most cases result from a disorder of the patient?s immune system, in which the immune system mistakenly targets the bone marrow (autoimmunity). This is based on the response of approximately half of patients to immunotherapy, whether it is ATG, cyclosporine, high-dose steroids or cyclophosphamide.

Organizations related to Acquired Aplastic Anemia

Anemia Institute for Research and Education
151 Bloor Street West
Toronto, Ontario None M5S 1S4
Phone #: 416--96-9-7431
800 #: 877--99-2-6364
e-mail: info@anemiainstitute.org
Home page: http://www.anemiainstitute.org
Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 310
Churchton MD 20733
Phone #: 410-867-0242
800 #: 800-747-2820
e-mail: info@aamds.org
Home page: http://www.aamds.org
Aplastic Anemia & Myelodysplasia Association of Canada
11181 Yonge Street,Suite 321
Ontario Intl L4S 1L2
Phone #: 905-780-0698
800 #: N/A
e-mail: info@aamac.ca
Home page: http://www.aamac.ca
Dubowitz Syndrome Support
c/o 106 Verndale Street
Warwick RI 02889-3242
Phone #: 401-737-3138
800 #: N/A
e-mail: dubowitzsyndrome@netzero.net
Home page: http://www.dubowitzsyndrome.net
Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles CA 90024
Phone #: 310-264-0826
800 #: N/A
e-mail: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
Home page: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org
NIH/Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
10 Center Dr, Building 10-CRC
Bethesda MD 20892-1202
Phone #: 301-402-0764
800 #: --
e-mail: zamaniw@nhlbi.nih.gov
Home page: http://dir.nhlbi.nih.gov/labs/hb/index.asp?
NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
31 Center Drive MSC 2480
Bethesda MD 20892-2480
Phone #: 301-592-8573
800 #: --
e-mail: nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov
Home page: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ? (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html