In this article, we will discuss various Causes of Aplastic Anemia. So, let’s get started.
Causes
Inherited
- Fanconi’s anemia
- Diamond-Blackfen syndrome
- Reticular dysgenesis (dyskeratosis congenita)
Acquired
A. Idiopathic (primary) probably autoimmune
B. Secondary
i. Diseases, e.g. SLE
ii. Drugs (direct cytotoxicity, idiosyncratic reactions)
- Cytotoxic drugs, e.g. alkylating agents, antimetabolites etc.
- Antibiotics, e.g. sulphonamides, chloramphenicol
- Antirheumatic drugs, e.g. penicillamine, gold, phenylbutazone, indomethacin, ibuprofen
- Antithyroid drugs
- Anticonvulsants (hydantoins, carbamazepine etc)
- Immunosuppressants, e.g. azathioprine, busulphan, cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, vinblastine, 6-mercaptopurine
iii. Chemicals
- Heavy metals, e.g. gold, arsenic, bismuth, mercury
- Industrial solvents
- Benzene-containing solvents, e.g. kerosene, carbontetrachloride
- Insecticide, e.g. organophosphorus, carbamates, DDT (chlorinated hydrocarbon)
iv. Irradiation
- Ionising radiation (radiodiagnosis, radiotherapy, nuclear power station)
v. Viruses
- Hepatitis viruses (post-hepatitis)
- Epstein-Barr viruses, parvovirus B19 (aplastic crisis)
- HIV
vi. Pregnancy
vii. Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
