Is aplastic anemia contagious?

Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
Updated on September 22, 2024
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Aplastic anemia is not contagious and has a minor hereditary factor, meaning that if a family member has aplastic anemia, it is generally not inherited by the next generation. The cause of aplastic anemia is still unclear, but possible reasons include: 1. Damage to hematopoietic stem cells. After the hematopoietic stem cells are damaged, it leads to limited stem cell proliferation and reduced hematopoiesis. 2. Damage to the hematopoietic microenvironment. Damage to the hematopoietic microenvironment can lead to changes that disrupt the regeneration of hematopoietic stem cells. 3. Immune factors. Immune factors can cause immune damage, directly damaging hematopoietic stem cells, thereby causing bone marrow regeneration disorders.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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Is aplastic anemia serious?

Whether aplastic anemia is severe depends on the specific circumstances of the aplastic anemia. Aplastic anemia can be divided into acute aplastic anemia and chronic aplastic anemia. Among them, acute aplastic anemia has a sudden onset, more severe clinical symptoms, and a higher mortality rate, so it is relatively more severe. Chronic aplastic anemia has a slower onset, and the degree of decrease in blood cells is relatively mild, also making it less severe. However, in cases of acute aplastic anemia, if intensive immunotherapy is administered, the effectiveness can reach 60%-70%, and it can be cured through hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

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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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Can aplastic anemia have children?

Acute aplastic anemia, after effective immunotherapy and discontinuation of medication for more than two years, or after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and discontinuation of medication for more than two years, it is possible to have children. In cases of chronic aplastic anemia, due to long-term oral intake of immunosuppressants and hematopoietic stimulants, having children is not advised. However, if immunosuppressants and hematopoietic drugs are effective and discontinued for more than two years, and blood levels are acceptable, then it is possible to have children.

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Written by Zhang Xiao Le
Hematology
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What tests should be done to diagnose aplastic anemia?

The diagnostic criteria for aplastic anemia include a decrease in all blood cells, generally no enlargement of the liver or spleen, reduced or severe reduction in bone marrow hyperplasia in multiple sites, and exclusion of other diseases causing a decrease in all blood cells. Therefore, the diagnosis of aplastic anemia requires the following tests: complete blood count, reticulocyte count, abdominal ultrasound, bone marrow cytology, bone marrow chromosome analysis, bone marrow biopsy, rheumatoid immune indicators, and peripheral blood T-cell subgroups. Additionally, for patients suspected of having aplastic anemia, further flow cytometry and differentiation from myelodysplastic syndromes are sometimes necessary.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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What medicine is used for aplastic anemia?

Aplastic anemia, whether acute or chronic, primarily uses immunosuppressive agents and hematopoietic stimulants for treatment. Cyclosporine is commonly used clinically among immunosuppressants, while the medicines stimulating bone marrow hematopoiesis mainly include androgens such as danazol and stanozolol. These medications all have associated adverse reactions: immunosuppressants can lead to hypertension, hyperglycemia, impaired liver and kidney function, and gum hypertrophy, while the main adverse reactions of hematopoietic androgens are liver damage. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)