Knowra Aplastic anemia Aplastic anemia Aplastic anemia is bone-marrow failure in which blood-forming stem cells are lost or suppressed, reducing production of red cells, white cells, and platelets.
Hematopoietic stem cell : A self-renewing bone-marrow cell that can produce all major blood-cell lineages. These cells are depleted or suppressed in aplastic anemia.
Bone marrow biopsy : A procedure that removes a small core of bone and marrow for microscopic examination. It demonstrates the sparse blood-forming tissue characteristic of aplastic anemia.
Myelodysplastic syndrome : A group of clonal marrow disorders marked by ineffective blood-cell production and risk of progression to leukemia. It can mimic aplastic anemia, but often shows dysplasia, abnormal clones, or a different marrow pattern.
Acquired aplastic anemia : Aplastic anemia developing after birth, commonly without an identifiable cause and often associated with immune-mediated stem-cell suppression. This is the predominant form and includes most cases without a clear trigger.
Anemia : A reduction in red-cell mass or hemoglobin that limits oxygen delivery to tissues. Red-cell deficiency causes fatigue, pallor, and shortness of breath.
Bone marrow : The tissue inside bones where blood cells are produced. Aplastic anemia arises when this blood-forming tissue becomes markedly hypocellular.
Complete blood count : A blood test measuring red cells, white cells, platelets, hemoglobin, and related indices. It identifies the multiple low cell counts that prompt evaluation.
Acute myeloid leukemia : A cancer of myeloid blood-forming cells characterized by accumulation of immature blasts. Leukemia can cause cytopenias, but marrow blasts distinguish it from aplastic anemia.
Benzene : A volatile industrial chemical and known human carcinogen that can damage bone marrow. Exposure can cause marrow toxicity and, rarely, aplastic anemia.
Neutropenia : An abnormally low number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection. Neutrophil deficiency raises the risk of severe bacterial and fungal infections.
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