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Lower than normal numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets cause most of the signs and symptoms of aplastic anemia.
Lower than normal numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets cause most of the signs and symptoms of aplastic anemia.
===Red Blood Cells===
===Red Blood Cells===
The most common symptom of a low red blood cell count is fatigue (tiredness). A lack of hemoglobin in the blood causes fatigue. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells. It helps carry oxygen to the body.
* Fatigue (secondary to anemia)
 
* Shortness of breath
A low red blood cell count also can cause shortness of breath; dizziness, especially when standing up; headaches; coldness in your hands or feet; pale skin; and chest pain.
* Dizziness, especially when standing up
* Headaches
* Coldness in hands or feet
* Pale skin
* Chest pain.


If you don't have enough hemoglobin-carrying red blood cells, your heart has to work harder to move the reduced amount of oxygen in your blood. This can lead to arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), a heart murmur, an enlarged heart, or even heart failure.
If you don't have enough hemoglobin-carrying red blood cells, your heart has to work harder to move the reduced amount of oxygen in your blood. This can lead to arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), a heart murmur, an enlarged heart, or even heart failure.

Revision as of 13:54, 24 September 2012

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Aplastic anemia is seen as a result of hypoplastic bone marrow causing pancytopenia (anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia). The history and symptoms seen are secondary to these abnormalities.

Symptoms

Lower than normal numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets cause most of the signs and symptoms of aplastic anemia.

Red Blood Cells

  • Fatigue (secondary to anemia)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness, especially when standing up
  • Headaches
  • Coldness in hands or feet
  • Pale skin
  • Chest pain.

If you don't have enough hemoglobin-carrying red blood cells, your heart has to work harder to move the reduced amount of oxygen in your blood. This can lead to arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), a heart murmur, an enlarged heart, or even heart failure.

White Blood Cells White blood cells help fight infections. Signs and symptoms of a low white blood cell count include fevers, frequent infections that can be severe, and flu-like illnesses that linger.

Platelets Platelets stick together to seal small cuts or breaks on blood vessel walls and stop bleeding. People who have low platelet counts tend to bruise and bleed easily, and the bleeding may be hard to stop.

Common types of bleeding associated with a low platelet count include nosebleeds, bleeding gums, pinpoint red spots on the skin, and blood in the stool. Women also may have heavy menstrual bleeding.

Other Signs and Symptoms Aplastic anemia can cause signs and symptoms that aren't directly related to low blood cell counts. Examples include nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) and skin rashes.

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Some people who have aplastic anemia have a red blood cell disorder called paroxysmal (par-ok-SIZ-mal) nocturnal hemoglobinuria (HE-mo-glo-bi-NOO-re-ah), or PNH. Most people who have PNH don't have any signs or symptoms.

If symptoms do occur, they may include:

•Shortness of breath •Swelling or pain in the abdomen or swelling in the legs caused by blood clots •Blood in the urine •Headaches •Jaundice (a yellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyes) In people who have aplastic anemia and PNH, either condition can develop first.

Symptoms

Diagnosis and management of aplastic anemia [1] (DONOT EDIT)

Diagnosis and Evaluation of aplastic anemia

  • Careful history and clinical examination
  • Detailed drug and occupational exposure history
  • Patients presenting with aplastic anaemia should be assessed to:
    • Confirm the diagnosis and exclude other possible causes of pancytopenia with hypocellular bone marrow
    • Classify the disease severity using standard blood and bone marrow criteria
    • Document the presence of associated paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) and cytogenetic clones
    • Exclude a possible late onset inherited bone marrow failure disorder
  • Multidisciplinary approach
  • Referral to specialist if necessary

References

  1. Marsh JC, Ball SE, Cavenagh J, Darbyshire P, Dokal I, Gordon-Smith EC; et al. (2009). "Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of aplastic anaemia". Br J Haematol. 147 (1): 43–70. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2141.2009.07842.x. PMID 19673883.