APLASTIC ANEMIA: AN ANALYSIS OF 50 CASES

Abstract

Toxic agents were considered causative in 7 cases and the cause was unknown in 43. Most of the patients had pancytopenia associated with a macrocytic anemia and a hypocellular bone marrow, but in 13 the marrow cellularity was normal or increased. In some patients mild hyperhemolysis was found in addition to the diminished blood production. Exogenous hemochromatosis was found in 6 of 14 autopsied patients. The prognosis was most favorable in patients with anemia alone, but a long duration (over 5 years) was also found in some patients with pancytopenia. Complete remissions occurred in 6 patients and partial or temporary remissions developed in another 6; these remissions which were seen most often in patients with anemia alone, occurred spontaneously, after splenectomy, and after steroid therapy.