Final answer:
Aplastic anemia is a serious bone marrow failure condition resulting from deficient hematopoietic stem cells. It can be caused by genetic factors, radiation, medications, chemotherapy, infections, autoimmune attacks, or systemic disorders. Treatment often involves immune system suppression or bone marrow transplantation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aplastic anemia is a severe condition characterized by the failure of the bone marrow to produce sufficient new blood cells. This can include a deficiency in red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets, which is why aplastic anemia can increase the risk of infections, anemia, and bleeding disorders. Causes of aplastic anemia may be related to inherited genetic disorders, and can be triggered by environmental factors such as radiation, certain medications, chemotherapy, and infection. Some cases of aplastic anemia are considered autoimmune diseases, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy cells in the bone marrow. Treatments often involve measures to 'reboot' the immune system, such as with immunosuppressive therapy or bone marrow transplantation.
Blood cells are primarily produced in the bone marrow by hematopoietic stem cells, and when these stem cells are deficient or damaged, the result is a lowered production of all types of blood cells, leading to anemia. Furthermore, systemic disorders like diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, hepatitis, or HIV infection, as well as treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and certain conditions like prolonged critical illness, can be contributory factors for causing aplastic anemia. Other forms of anemia, such as vitamin-deficiency anemia and sickle cell anemia, arise from other mechanisms but also result in decreased RBC production or function.