This is an individual decision and should be discussed in detail with your doctor and the medical team that would be involved in either treatment approach. They can help you understand your specific risks and potential benefits of these options.
The main goal of aplastic anemia aplastic anemia: (ay-PLASS-tik uh-NEE_mee-uh) A rare and serious condition in which the bone marrow fails to make enough blood cells - red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The term aplastic is a Greek word meaning not to form. Anemia is a condition that happens when red blood cell count is low. Most… treatment is to increase the number of healthy cells in your blood so you will feel better, no longer need transfusions and have improved quality of life.
Immunosuppressive therapy Immunosuppressive therapy: Immunosuppressive drug therapy lowers your body's immune response. This prevents your immune system from attacking your bone marrow, allowing bone marrow stem cells to grow, which raises blood counts. For older patients with acquired aplastic anemia, immunosuppressive drug therapy is the… using ATG and cyclosporine cyclosporine: Cyclosporine is used along with antithymocyte globulin (ATG), another immunosuppressant, for treating aplastic anemia and some other forms of bone marrow failure. works by preventing your immune system from attacking your bone marrow bone marrow: The soft, spongy tissue inside most bones. Blood cells are formed in the bone marrow. , letting your stem cells stem cells: Cells in the body that develop into other cells. There are two main sources of stem cells. Embryonic stem cells come from human embryos and are used in medical research. Adult stem cells in the body repair and maintain the organ or tissue in which they are found. Blood-forming (hemapoietic) stem… grow back and raising your blood count. This is a standard treatment for older patients or those without a stem cell donor.
Stem cell transplantation involves putting blood-forming stem cells from a healthy donor into your bloodstream. These cells travel to your bone marrow and start making healthy cells. This is a standard treatment for younger patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) and other bone marrow failure bone marrow failure: A condition that occurs when the bone marrow stops making enough healthy blood cells. The most common of these rare diseases are aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Bone marrow failure can be acquired (begin any time in life) or can be… diseases if a donor is not available.