Aplastic anemia is not a type of cancer, but it can increase the risk of developing leukemia. Aplastic anemia occurs when the bone marrow no longer produces blood cells.

Anything that damages stem cells within the bone marrow can cause aplastic anemia. The condition can be mild or severe and may progress quickly or slowly.

Treatment options for aplastic anemia depend on the cause. For example, if it develops a side effect of taking medication, symptoms may resolve after a person switches to a different drug.

This article explores aplastic anemia in more detail, including its association with leukemia.

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Aplastic anemia is a condition in which the bone marrow does not produce enough of at least two of the following:

  • Red blood cells: These carry oxygen around the body. When a person’s red blood cell count drops below a healthy level, they have anemia.
  • White blood cells: These help fight infection and are an essential part of the immune system. When a person’s white blood cell count drops below a healthy level, they have leukopenia.
  • Platelets: These help with clotting.

In the bone marrow, stem cells grow into blood cells. When a person has aplastic anemia, stem cells within the bone marrow are damaged or destroyed. This means that they do not produce enough blood cells. Having low levels of blood cells can affect a person’s overall health.

Researchers do not fully understand how aplastic anemia develops, but one theory is that it is an autoimmune condition. This means it results from the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacking healthy cells.

Some environmental or health conditions may also trigger the onset of aplastic anemia.

Aplastic anemia can increase a person’s risk of developing leukemia.

Additionally, the symptoms of leukemia and aplastic anemia are similar, as both conditions affect the bone marrow and production of blood cells.

However, people should note that while leukemia is a form of cancer, aplastic anemia is not.

Leukemia resources

Visit our dedicated hub for more research-backed information and in-depth resources on leukemia.

The symptoms of aplastic anemia may include:

The bone marrow damage that leads to aplastic anemia may result from several causes, including:

  • the immune system attacking stem cells, which may occur due to a range of health conditions
  • taking certain medications, such as chemotherapy drugs
  • pregnancy
  • exposure to toxins or chemicals in the environment
  • certain hereditary conditions, such as Fanconi anemia

Sometimes, though, aplastic anemia does not have a clear cause. This can make treatment more complex.

Treatment of aplastic anemia depends on the cause. For this reason, a doctor may suggest a range of options:

  • Blood transfusions: These can temporarily relieve symptoms such as fatigue, anemia, and bleeding because the transfusion includes healthy blood cells. However, the body may develop antibodies against future transfusions and there is a risk of iron overload.
  • Stem cell transplants: Surgeons replace stem cells in the bone marrow with cells from a donor, usually from a close relative, so that there is a genetic match.
  • Immunosuppressive therapy: This involves a doctor administering drugs, including cyclosporine and antithymocyte globulin, that help reduce immune system activity to slow damage to the bone marrow.
  • Antimicrobials: These medications help prevent infections from developing while a person has a compromised immune system.

If pregnancy or medication is causing aplastic anemia, symptoms should resolve after a person gives birth or switches to a different medication.

A doctor can help a person find out the underlying cause of their aplastic anemia and determine which treatments may work best for them.

What is the life expectancy of a person with aplastic anemia?

Life expectancies vary between individuals. However, with developments in treatment, the life expectancy of a person with aplastic anemia has increased over the years.

For example, when a person receives a stem cell transplant or immunosuppressive treatment, they may expect to live for at least another 10 years. However, the underlying cause of aplastic anemia can also affect life expectancy.

People can speak with a doctor about their individual outlook.

Can you fully recover from aplastic anemia?

A person can fully recover from aplastic anemia, especially if the cause is pregnancy or a medication side effect. People who receive a bone marrow transplant from a suitable donor have a 75% likelihood of living for at least another 5 years.

What is the difference between aplastic anemia and leukemia?

Aplastic anemia and leukemia are both conditions affecting the bone marrow. However, aplastic anemia is not a form of cancer.

With aplastic anemia, a person has fewer blood cells due to early stem cell death. With leukemia, a person has more unhealthy white blood cells due to uncontrolled cell division.

Aplastic anemia is a condition that affects the bone marrow and reduces the number of blood cells it makes. It is not a form of cancer, though a person’s risk of developing leukemia increases when they have aplastic anemia.

Treatment for aplastic anemia depends on the underlying cause and may include blood tranfusions, stem cell transplants, and taking certain medications.