Cause 5. Aplastic Anemia: A Bone Marrow Failure
Aplastic anemia is a rare but serious form of severe anemia that occurs when the bone marrow fails to produce enough red blood cells, as well as white blood cells and platelets. This bone marrow failure can be caused by a variety of factors, including radiation or chemotherapy, certain medications, viral infections, and autoimmune disorders.
Radiation and chemotherapy can damage the bone marrow’s ability to produce new blood cells, leading to aplastic anemia. In these cases, the anemia may resolve once the treatment is completed and the bone marrow recovers, but in some instances, additional treatment may be necessary to stimulate blood cell production.
Certain medications, such as chloramphenicol, gold compounds, and some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can cause aplastic anemia by damaging the bone marrow. If you suspect that a medication may be causing your anemia, it’s essential to discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider.
In some cases, aplastic anemia is caused by an autoimmune response, where the body’s immune system mistakenly targets and destroys the bone marrow. Treatment for autoimmune aplastic anemia may involve immunosuppressive medications or, in severe cases, bone marrow transplantation. (5)
