Aplastic Anaemia
Aplastic anaemia is a condition in which production of red cells in the bone marrow is reduced. It involves failure to produce adequate red cells, white cells, and platelets.
Etiology
This can be classified as:
1) Idiopathic aplastic anaemia: This constitutes 50 per cent of the cases. Its cause is unknown.
2) Acquired (secondary) aplastic anaemia: This is due to drug toxicity or sensitisation, e.g. chloramphenicol, sulphonamides, Phenylbutazone, and antimitotic drugs.
3) Aplastic anaemia associated with multiple congenital defects: This is hereditary and accompanied by skeletal, eye, heart, kidney, genital and other pigment abnormalities.