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 Read about events on Capitol Hill, funding for rare-disease research, and other topics of interest from NORD's office in Washington, DC.
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"Resources" on this report.
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2009
NORD is grateful to Neal S Young, MD from the NIH/Hemalotogy Branch of the Heart Lung and Blood Institute for his assistance in updating this report
Synonyms of Acquired Aplastic Anemia
- Idiopathic Aplastic Anemia
Disorder Subdivisions
General Discussion
Acquired aplastic anemia is a rare disorder caused by profound, almost complete bone marrow failure. Bone marrow is the spongy substance found in the center of the long bones of the body. The bone marrow produces specialized cells (hematopoietic stem cells) that grow and eventually develop into red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets. In acquired aplastic anemia, an almost complete absence of hematopoietic stem cells eventually results in low levels of red and white blood cells and platelets (pancytopenia). Specific symptoms associated with acquired aplastic anemia may vary, but include fatigue, chronic infections, dizziness, weakness, headaches, and episodes of excessive bleeding. Although some cases of acquired aplastic anemia occur secondary to other disorders, researchers now believe that most cases result from a disorder of the patient’s immune system, in which the immune system mistakenly targets the bone marrow (autoimmunity). This is based on the response of approximately half of patients to immunotherapy, whether it is ATG, cyclosporine, high-dose steroids or cyclophosphamide.
Organizations related to Acquired Aplastic Anemia
- Anemia Institute for Research and Education
151 Bloor Street West
Suite 600
Toronto, Ontario None M5S 1S4
Phone #: 416--96-9-7431
800 #: 877--99-2-6364
e-mail: info@anemiainstitute.org
Home page: http://www.anemiainstitute.org
- Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation, Inc.
100 Park Avenue
Suite 108
Rockville MD 20850
Phone #: 301-279-7202
800 #: 800-747-2820
e-mail: help@aamds.org
Home page: http://www.aamds.org
- Aplastic Anemia & Myelodysplasia Association of Canada
11181 Yonge Street,Suite 321
Richmond Hill
Ontario Intl L4S 1L2
Phone #: 905-780-0698
800 #: N/A
e-mail: info@aamac.ca
Home page: http://www.aamac.ca
- Dubowitz Syndrome Support
c/o 106 Verndale Street
Warwick RI 02889-3242
Phone #: 401-737-3138
800 #: N/A
e-mail: dubowitzsyndrome@netzero.net
Home page: http://www.dubowitzsyndrome.net
- Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
Phone #: 301-251-4925
800 #: 888-205-2311
e-mail: ordr@od.nih.gov
Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/Default.aspx
- Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles CA 90024
Phone #: 310-264-0826
800 #: N/A
e-mail: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
Home page: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org
- NIH/Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
10 Center Dr, Building 10-CRC
3-5140, MSC-1202
Bethesda MD 20892-1202
Phone #: 301-402-0764
800 #: --
e-mail: zamaniw@nhlbi.nih.gov
Home page: http://dir.nhlbi.nih.gov/labs/hb/index.asp?
- NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
31 Center Drive MSC 2480
Building 31A Rm 4A16
Bethesda MD 20892-2480
Phone #: 301-592-8573
800 #: --
e-mail: nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov
Home page: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
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