Can leukemia cause aplastic anemia?

In a minority of cases, acquired aplastic anemia may eventually evolve into leukemia. PNH is caused by an acquired genetic defect affecting the PIGA gene, limited to the stem cells. The PIGA gene mutations cause blood cells to become sensitive to increased destruction by complement, a blood immunity protein. read more

AML is the most common acute leukemia affecting adults, with about 20,000 new cases diagnosed each year. When people have AML, blasts make copies of themselves quickly. This slows the production of red blood cells and platelets, causing tiredness from anemia and a risk of bleeding from a low platelet count. read more

Chemotherapy, radiation, and some drugs doctors use to treat leukemia may cause aplastic anemia. This is because some cancer therapies prevent bone marrow from making new, healthy blood cells. White blood cell counts drop first, then platelet counts, and finally, red blood cell counts. read more

About Aplastic Anemia. Aplastic anemia is a form of bone marrow failure. It is primarily a disease of children and younger adults but can occur at any age. At the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, patients with aplastic anemia are managed by experts with the Bone Marrow Failures Disorders Program. read more