Aplastic Anaemia and Stem Cells

Aplastic anaemia is a disorder of the bone marrow, where the bone marrow’s stem cells are damaged and do not make enough blood cells. There are three types of blood cells each with a very specific role. Red blood cells transport oxygen around the body and take carbon dioxide to the lungs, white blood cells form part of the immune system and help the body fight infections, while platelets stick together to stop bleeding from cuts.^[1]

There are a variety of health problems that can occur as a result of aplastic anaemia including; bleeding, infections, heart failure, irregular heart beats, and even death.^[1]

There are several types of aplastic anaemia; it can be inherited, in forms such as Fanconi anaemia or Diamond-Blackfan anaemia, or it can be acquired. There are several causes of acquired aplastic anemia including infection, exposure to certain viruses, exposure to certain toxins, drugs, and more.^[2]

Aplastic Anaemia Facts

• Annually, it occurs in about 2 per million of the population^[2]
• It is less prevalent in the West, with Asia experiencing 2-3 times more cases^[2]
• Acquired aplastic anaemia most commonly presents between 15 and 25 years of age^[2]
• There are approximately 125 cases diagnosed every year^[3]
• 30 cases are diagnosed in children each year^[3]
• Fanconi anaemia is the most common form of inherited aplastic anaemia^[4]
• There are currently 170 clinical trials investigating the application of stem cells for treatment ^[5]
• There are currently 46 clinical trials investigating the application of cord blood stem cells for treatment ^[6]

Aplastic Anaemia and Stem Cells

A stem cell transplant is the only real cure for aplastic anaemia, with allogeneic stem cell transplants being the preferred method. Allogeneic stem cells come from a donor, who could be a sibling, another family member, or a stranger found on a stem cell registry.^[4]

A Phase 1 clinical trial is aiming to determine the efficacy and toxicity of using a patient’s own stem cells to treat the hereditary form of Fanconi anaemia. The stem cells have been modified in the laboratory to correct the defective gene which causes FA.^[7]

References

1. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/aplastic
2. http://patient.info/doctor/aplastic-anaemia
3. http://www.leukaemiacare.org.uk/aplastic-anaemia
4. http://www.leukaemiacare.org.uk/aplastic-anaemia
5. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=aplastic+anaemia+stem+cells&Search=Search
6. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=aplastic+anaemia+cord+blood&Search=Search
7. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01331018?term=autologous+stem+cells+aplastic+anaemia&rank=12

The information contained in this article is for information purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of a medical expert. If you have any concerns about your health we urge you to discuss them with your doctor.