People with aplastic anemia are at a higher risk for complications. This condition can lead to leukemia and other severe blood conditions. It can also cause irregular heartbeats and heart failure. Therefore, it’s essential to understand the symptoms and treatment options for aplastic anemia. You’ll also want to make sure you receive a complete blood count.
Eltrombopag
Eltrombopag is a drug the FDA approves for treating aplastic anemia. It is taken in combination with standard immunosuppressive therapies. It has been approved for adults and pediatric patients with severe aplastic anemia. It is given once daily and is also available as a generic version. Researchers will monitor the effects of eltrombopag by monitoring blood tests every two weeks.
Eltrombopag is generally well tolerated. It is best administered on an empty stomach or four hours before or after eating a meal. It should be given at least four hours before a calcium-rich or iron-containing food.
Complete blood count
A complete blood count for aplastic anemia is integral to diagnosing and treating the disorder. Aplastic anemia is a condition that causes low blood counts and increases the risk of infection and bleeding. In addition, the condition can cause severe symptoms, such as weakness and fatigue. Treatments for aplastic anemia range from simple medications to bone marrow transplants.
A physician will order a complete blood count (CBC) to determine whether a patient has aplastic anemia. This test measures the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and erythrocytes in the blood. The doctor may also take a sample of the patient’s bone marrow and examine it under a microscope. Depending on the results, further tests may be necessary.
Bone marrow transplant
Bone marrow transplantation is the primary treatment for aplastic anemia. With advances in donor selection, conditioning regimens, and graft versus host disease prevention, transplantation outcomes are much improved in younger patients. However, these benefits have not been seen in older patients.
This study evaluated 32 patients with severe aplastic anemia and bone marrow transplantation. Patients were followed for an average of 24 months. The patients were treated between May 1, 2017, and August 30, 2020. Their median age was 24 years, and 17% were non-White. There were 13 patients from minority racial and ethnic groups, and four were Asian. The remaining seven patients were Black or Hispanic.
Immunosuppressants
Immunosuppressive therapy (IST) is the most common therapeutic option for aplastic anemia. It is generally successful in patients without HLA-matched siblings or comorbidities. Standard IST regimens consist of horse anti-thymocyte globulin and cyclosporine A. However, many patients experience relapse and unresponsiveness to immunosuppressants. Clonal evolution is a significant challenge with this therapy, and many studies are being conducted to overcome this problem.
A variety of measures assessed response to immunosuppressive treatment. The most crucial outcome measure was complete response, defined as a hemoglobin level of at least ten g/dL, an absolute neutrophil count of 1000/cc, and a platelet count of at least 100,000/mm3. Other criteria for response included comorbidity, age, and the presence of a matched unrelated donor.
Inherited bone marrow failure syndromes
Inherited bone marrow failure syndromes are a group of disorders that cause the abnormal production of blood cells. Patients with these syndromes are at increased risk of developing aplastic anemia and other blood cancers. Symptoms can be mild or severe and may be inherited or acquired. Although they are rarely fatal, patients with these syndromes should be evaluated by a physician for possible diagnosis.
While the exact cause of aplastic anemia is unknown, some experts think it is caused by a problem with the immune system that causes the body to attack bone marrow. Aplastic anemia can also occur in other inherited bone marrow failure syndromes, including Fanconi anemia and dyskeratosis congenital. Diagnosing aplastic anemia requires detailed medical history and blood tests. A small blood sample is obtained from the child’s vein and examined for low numbers of hemoglobin, platelets, neutrophils, and reticulocytes.
Treatment options
Aplastic anemia is a severe condition that affects the blood and bone marrow. Treatment options may include stem cell transplantation or a bone marrow transplant to restore blood cell production. In some cases, a combination of both types of treatment may be required to achieve full recovery. Patients also receive medication to suppress the immune system and stimulate the bone marrow to produce more blood cells. Blood transfusions are another treatment option for people with aplastic anemia. While there is no cure, these treatments can stabilize the condition and reduce fatigue.
Some people with aplastic anemia do not respond to immunosuppressive therapies. These medicines suppress the immune system and reduce blood platelet production. Examples of immunosuppressive medicines include cyclosporine and anti-thymocyte globulin. Corticosteroids are also commonly used to treat aplastic anemia, but they may weaken the immune system, resulting in anemia.
