What Are Aplastic Anemia and Myelodysplasia?
Aplastic anemia is a rare but extremely serious disorder that results when the marrow fails to produce blood cells. Aplastic anemia may be either acquired or inherited. Myelodysplasia is similar to aplastic anemia in that production of blood cells is decreased; however, the blood cells which are produced in myelodysplasia may not function properly. Aplastic anemia patients who do not receive a bone marrow transplant may go on to develop myelodysplasia which, in turn, can progress to leukemia.
