What are the specific symptoms of aplastic anemia?

Aplastic anemia (AA) is a group of bone marrow failure syndromes caused by various etiologies, characterized by decreased bone marrow hematopoietic activity and pancytopenia in the peripheral blood. Clinically, patients primarily present with anemia, bleeding, and infection.

What are the specific symptoms of aplastic anemia?

Exposure to drugs, chemical toxins, ionizing radiation, or viral infections may impair bone marrow hematopoietic function, leading to pancytopenia in the peripheral blood. Based on disease severity, AA is classified into two major types: acute and chronic. Acute AA has a sudden onset and rapid progression, with bleeding and fever due to infection as predominant clinical manifestations. Due to thrombocytopenia, patients may experience gastrointestinal bleeding, hematuria, retinal hemorrhage, or even intracranial hemorrhage.

Neutropenia compromises immune function; thus, nearly all patients with acute AA develop infections—pneumonia being the most common—and severe cases may progress to sepsis. As the disease advances, worsening hemorrhage leads to anemia. In contrast, chronic AA typically presents predominantly with anemia. Bleeding tends to be mild and limited to skin and mucosal surfaces, while infections mainly involve the respiratory tract and are generally controllable. The disease course may persist for many years without resolution; however, a minority of patients may eventually progress to acute AA.

How is aplastic anemia treated?

Supportive care plays a critical role in AA management, including red blood cell and platelet transfusions, as well as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), to alleviate clinical symptoms. Androgens and cyclosporine may also be used to stimulate bone marrow hematopoiesis. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation represents one curative treatment option for AA.

Dietary precautions include avoiding foods that may provoke bleeding, such as hard-shelled or spiny items. For patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, bland, easily digestible liquid or semi-liquid diets are recommended, served at moderate temperatures. Fresh vegetables and fruits may be consumed in moderation.

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