What Are the Causes of Aplastic Anaemia?

Posted on: Apr 8, 2025 | 3 min | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

What Are the Causes of Aplastic Anaemia?

Aplastic anaemia is an autoimmune disorder that affects the stem cells in the bone marrow. This hampers their capacity to produce red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Fatigue, frequent bruising, bleeding of the nose and gums, skin rashes and breathlessness are the common symptoms of aplastic anaemia. You may experience these symptoms suddenly, without any reason. However, in some cases, the symptoms start developing gradually.

Aplastic anaemia is a rare disorder, but it can turn into a serious or life-threatening ailment if not treated on time. While certain treatments and medicines may help you manage these symptoms temporarily, you should go for a stem cell or bone marrow transplant for permanent relief from this condition.

In some cases, the causes of aplastic anaemia are not known. This condition is known as idiopathic aplastic anaemia.

What are the Aplastic Anaemia Causes?

Though the exact aplastic anaemia causes are not known, experts believe the following to be the common triggers of this condition:

• Pre-existing autoimmune disorders

• Radiation therapies and chemotherapy treatments – these can damage the healthy stem cells in the bone marrow; hence, aplastic anaemia is one of the common side effects of these treatments

• Prolonged exposure to toxins, like benzene and arsenic, present in pesticides, insecticides and gasoline

• Consumption of arthritis medicines and other antibiotics for a long time

• Viral infections that may damage the healthy stem cells in the bone marrow; common examples of viruses that can be potential aplastic anaemia causes are hepatitis, HIV, parvovirus B19, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr

• Pregnancy – immune-system cells may damage the bone marrow during this phase

• Rare disorders like paroxysmal nocturnal haemogloburina, which can damage the red blood cells rapidly leading to aplastic anaemia

• Genetic bone marrow disorders like Fanconi’s anaemia, Dyskeratosis congenita, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, Diamond-Blackfan anaemia and Pearson syndrome

As this condition can affect you suddenly, it is recommended to seek medical help and run tests like complete blood count, peripheral blood smear, reticulocyte count and bone marrow biopsy to rule out this condition as quickly as possible.

Conclusion

If you find yourself in the high-risk category after learning about the aplastic anaemia causes, visit your doctor immediately. Depending on the intensity of your condition, your doctor may prescribe you to take antibiotics, immunosuppressants and blood transfusion methods. However, if your condition is severe, you will be advised to opt for the only permanent cure for aplastic anaemia as of now – stem cell transplantation.

A health insurance policy will give you the confidence to start these diagnostic tests and treatments as soon as you notice any discomfort. Your policy will take care of your treatment costs, thereby giving you peace of mind.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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