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Who Is at Risk for Aplastic Anemia?
Aplastic anemia is a rare but serious blood disorder. People of all ages can develop aplastic anemia. However, it's most common in adolescents, young adults, and the elderly. Men and women are equally likely to have aplastic anemia.
The disorder is two to three times more common in Asian countries.
Your risk of aplastic anemia is higher if you:
- Have been exposed to toxins
- Have taken certain medicines or had radiation or chemotherapy (treatments for cancer)
- Have certain infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, or inherited conditions
For more information, go to "What Causes Aplastic Anemia?"
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Clinical Trials for Rare Blood Diseases (Neal Young, M.D.)
Clinical trials are research studies that explore whether a medical strategy, treatment, or device is safe and effective for humans. To find clinical trials that are currently underway for Aplastic Anemia, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.
July 4, 2012
NIH Media Availability: Platelet drug shows clinical benefits for severe, unresponsive aplastic anemia
Eltrombopag, a drug that was designed to stimulate production of platelets from the bone marrow and thereby improve blood clotting, can raise blood cell levels in some people with severe aplastic anemia who have failed all standard therapies.
The NHLBI updates Health Topics articles on a biennial cycle based on a thorough review of research findings and new literature. The articles also are updated as needed if important new research is published. The date on each Health Topics article reflects when the content was originally posted or last revised.
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