What Causes Pure Red Cell Aplasia

Acquired Pure Red Cell Aplasia is thought to be an autoimmune disorder possibly caused either by a tumor of the thymus gland, certain drugs or a viral infection. It is one of a group of bone marrow failure syndromes.

What is red cell aplasia caused by?

Pure red blood cell aplasia (PRCA) describes a type of anemia brought about by the marrow’s inability to produce these cells. An autoimmune disease, PRCA can result from drugs, viral infections, herpes, parvovirus B19 (fifth disease), hepatitis or HIV. Children can also be born with PRCA (Blackfan-Diamond syndrome).

Is pure red cell aplasia a cancer?

The “pure” red cell aplasia, Diamond Blackfan anemia, felt by many to be the “sine qua non” of pediatric hematology, is one of a rare group of inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS) distinguished by the variable presence of congenital anomalies and a predisposition to cancer.