Aplastic anemia is characterized by very low number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the body. This is because the bone marrow is not making enough of them. The state of the illness could be moderate and severe or very severe. Moderate cases can be treated outside the hospital; while the worse ones must be hospitalized and given immediate medical attention.

Lack of hemoglobin-carrying red blood cells may lead to chronic fatigue syndrome and even heart failure. With low white blood cells count, frequent infections and illness will set in easily and linger on. Low levels of platelets may cause unstoppable bleeding. For any of these conditions, there are different treatments readily available to help patients with aplastic anemia. Among the common treatments are blood transfusions, medications, and bone marrow transplants. Supportive care is always given to keep patients stable before further treatments start. The first step is to remove any contact with known agents like environmental toxins (benzene).

Most patients of aplastic anemia are given multiple blood transfusions. The body requires transfusions of red blood cells or platelets, or both, for every month or two. The illness is not cured but the symptoms are relieved.

When red blood cells are transfused, symptoms like fatigue and anemia are temporarily improved. Matching blood types between recipient and donor is normally easy because there are only 4 major blood types.

Platelets to be transfused are collected from a donor through hemapheresis process, which involves a blood-separating machine so that the blood will circulate back into the vein in the arm of a donor right after platelets are removed.

White blood cells are short-lived and not easily transfused.

Patients can receive unlimited number of blood cell transfusions. The risks to be watched out are iron overload and antibodies.

Drugs that suppress or weaken the immune system are given to patients. These medication will help control the activities of the immune system that harm the bone marrow. Bone marrow stimulants are also given so that the marrow will be able to produce new blood cells.

Transplants may be the only successful aplastic anemia treatment options offered to patients with severe or very severe aplastic anemia—without recurrence.