Secondary aplastic anemia

Alternative names:

acquired aplastic anemia; anemia - secondary aplastic

Symptoms:

• fatigue
• pallor
• shortness of breath on exertion
• rapid heart rate
• heart beat, irregular
• rash
• easy bruising
• nose bleeds
• bleeding of the gums
• prolonged bleeding

Signs and tests:

A physical examination may reveal enlarged spleen, tenderness of the sternum, and an irregular heart rate. The lymph nodes may be enlarged (rare).

• A CBC shows low hematocrit and hemoglobin levels.
• The reticulocyte count is low.
• The platelet count is low.
• A bone marrow biopsy is abnormal.
• The bilirubin level may be elevated.
• An abdominal X-ray or abdominal CT scan shows enlarged spleen.