Final answer:
Aplastic anemia can be caused by immune-mediated factors, acute hepatitis, or both, leading to a deficiency in red blood cell stem cells within the bone marrow. Reduced levels of all types of blood cells are a hallmark of this condition, and treatments sometimes involve resetting the immune system to improve bone marrow function.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cause of aplastic anemia can be due to immune-mediated factors, acute hepatitis, or both. Aplastic anemia occurs when there is a deficiency of red blood cell (RBC) stem cells, which are responsible for producing new blood cells. This condition can be inherited or triggered by external factors such as radiation, medication, chemotherapy, or infection. Acute hepatitis could contribute to the development of aplastic anemia through liver inflammation, which may disrupt the balance and function of blood cells.
In someone with aplastic anemia, the levels of all three types of blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) are reduced because of the deficiency in the stem cells necessary for their production. These blood cells are normally produced in the bone marrow by hemopoietic stem cells. Treatments such as immunosuppressive therapy can "reboot" the immune system and may lead to a recovery of the bone marrow's ability to produce blood cells.