What are the symptoms of aplastic anemia?

Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
Updated on September 14, 2024
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The symptoms of aplastic anemia include three main symptoms: firstly, infections; secondly, anemia; and thirdly, bleeding. Infections occur due to a decrease in white blood cells, especially neutrophils, resulting in poor resistance in patients making them susceptible to subsequent infections, including infections of the lungs, digestive system, urinary system, and skin and mucous membranes. Anemia occurs due to a reduction in red blood cells, causing symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, fatigue, reduced tolerance to physical activity, and poor appetite. A reduction in platelets significantly increases the risk of bleeding, especially when platelets are less than 20 times 10 to the ninth power per liter, which can lead to bleeding in the skin, mucous membranes, organs, and even cerebral hemorrhage.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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Which is more severe, aplastic anemia or leukemia?

Aplastic anemia is not leukemia. Leukemia is characterized by more than 20% primary cells in the bone marrow being classified as leukemia. Aplastic anemia, on the other hand, is a bone marrow failure disease, characterized by a reduction in hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow, leading to a decrease in all blood cells. Aplastic anemia can be divided into acute aplastic anemia and chronic aplastic anemia. Acute aplastic anemia has a rapid onset, severe condition, and high mortality rate, while chronic aplastic anemia has a slow onset, longer disease history, and lower mortality rate. Treatment for acute aplastic anemia requires intensified immunotherapy or syngeneic complete match transplantation, whereas treatment for chronic aplastic anemia mainly involves promotive hematopoietic therapy.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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How long can one live with aplastic anemia?

The lifespan of patients with aplastic anemia depends on the type and the effectiveness of the treatment. Aplastic anemia is classified into acute aplastic anemia and chronic aplastic anemia. In cases of acute aplastic anemia, cure is possible through intensified immunotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; however, without aggressive treatment, the survival period is relatively short, generally not exceeding one year. Chronic aplastic anemia, on the other hand, has a longer medical history, and patients can often live for ten to twenty years or more. However, throughout this period, ongoing transfusions of red blood cells and platelets are required to support treatment.

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Written by Zhang Xiao Le
Hematology
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Can patients with aplastic anemia drink corn silk water?

Patients with aplastic anemia can drink corn silk tea, but corn silk tea has no therapeutic effect on aplastic anemia. Aplastic anemia is caused by various causes and mechanisms leading to bone marrow failure, mainly characterized by decreased bone marrow hematopoietic function, decreased total blood cells, and the resulting anemia, bleeding, and infection syndrome. The pathogenesis of aplastic anemia is not clear, mainly due to immune abnormalities. The treatment is mainly the use of immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine and hematopoietic agents, primarily androgens. Corn silk tea does not have a therapeutic effect on the mechanisms of this disease.

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Written by Zhang Xiao Le
Hematology
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Are the liver and kidney functions normal in patients with aplastic anemia?

Patients with aplastic anemia generally have normal liver and kidney functions. However, in certain special circumstances, abnormalities in liver and kidney functions may occur, including: Firstly, the routine treatment for aplastic anemia mainly includes the immunosuppressant cyclosporine and the hematopoietic stimulant androgens. The primary side effect of cyclosporine is renal toxicity. Therefore, during the use of cyclosporine, it is necessary to monitor the concentration of cyclosporine; excessive levels can lead to renal dysfunction. Androgens, including stanozolol and danazol, primarily cause hepatic toxicity; hence, it is necessary to monitor liver and kidney functions during treatment of aplastic anemia. The second factor that may cause liver and kidney function abnormalities is severe anemia. Long-term severe anemia can lead to tissue ischemia and hypoxia in the liver or kidneys, and if prolonged, it can cause abnormalities in liver and kidney functions. (Medication use should be carried out under the guidance of a physician.)

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The etiology of aplastic anemia

The etiology of aplastic anemia currently has no absolute cause, but the more supported theories concerning its etiology include the soil, pest, and seed theories. The soil theory refers to abnormalities in the microenvironment within the bone marrow, which causes an abnormal growth environment for hematopoietic stem cells, consequently limiting their growth. The seed theory indicates a decrease in the number and quality of hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow, leading to bone marrow regeneration failure. The pest theory refers to immunological factors, which play a significant role in aplastic anemia, suggesting a disorder in the patient's immune function that leads to bone marrow regeneration failure.