Aplastic Anemia in Children: A Review

Aplastic anaemia is characterized by bone marrow hypocellularity and peripheral pancytopenia and is apotenttally fatal disease. Activated autoreactive T lymphocytes induce apoptosis of haematopoietic stem cells resulting in a hypocellular bone marrow. Stem cell transplantation is the treatment of choice in patients with a matched donor. Immunosuppressive therapy is another option in those who do not have a matched donor This review focuses on the pathophysiology and challenges in the treatment of aplastic anaemia in children. We have also presented our experience of 50 children with aplastic anemia presenting in the Department of Pediatrics, IMS, BHU over a period of 18 months.