The etiology of Aplastic Anemia

Anemia caused by deficient red cell production due to disorders of bone marrow.

Etiology: Approximately half of the cases are idiopathic; most common in adolescents and young adults. Exposure to chemical and antineoplastic agents, and ionizing radiation can result in aplastic anemia. A congenital form has been described.

There currently exists considerable controversy as to the etiology of aplastic anemia, particularly regarding the role of neoplastic agents. Burger (1989, p. 14) reports that the disease aplastic anemia has been traced to the herbicide 2,4,5-T, a phenoxy compound which is more commonly referred to as Agent Orange, in several cases. Agent Orange, a particular combination of certain species of herbicides, consists of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy-acetic acid as well as several chemically related compounds. Although Agent Orange was first registered with the Department of Agriculture in 1948 by Amchem Products Company for use as a brush and weed control agent, not until early 1962 did the military begin its use. Agent Orange had previously been used for the purposes of controlling brush and weeds on both land and water in the United States, but with the build-up in Southeast Asia, the military demand for defoliation operations during the Viet N

. . .
marrow, can be explosive, particularly when caused by myelotoxin. This disease can occur alone, although it is usually accompanied by agranulocytosis and thrombocytopenia, constituting pancytopenia due to depressed production of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes. Given the reduced counts of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets, patients generally develop normocytic anemia, granulocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia. The erythrocyte count in normocytic anemia is usually below 1 million/ cu mm, and the reticulocyte count as well decreases, with the patient typically experiencing progressive fatigue, lassitude, and dyspnea. For granulocytopenia, the leukocyte count may be less than 2000/cu mm (normal count is 6000-9000/cu mm), with the patient suffering from increased susceptibility to infection given his/her inability to fight off bacteria and other invasive organisms. When the leukocyte count further reduces to below 1000/cu mm, the patient becomes highly vulnerable to severe fulminating bacterial infections. For thrombocytopenia, the platelet count may fall to less than 30,000/cu mm (normal count is 200,000-350,000/cu mm). Given reduced thrombocyte levels, the patient usually suffers bleeding into the skin and mucou
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Allen Klein, Agent Orange, Etiology Approximately, , Department Defense, aplastic anemia, Hirata Burger, bone marrow, Viet Nam, Nam War, Hendin Haas, agent orange, Products Company, klein 1988, allen klein, cells bone, burger 1989, cells bone marrow, 1988 reports, allen klein 1988, disease aplastic anemia, blood cells, disease aplastic, defects experimental animals, birth defects experimental,
Approximate Word count = 1479
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

More Essays on The etiology of Aplastic Anemia