Is aplastic anemia a genetic disease?

Damage to the bone marrow's stem cells causes aplastic anemia. When stem cells are damaged, they don't grow into healthy blood cells. The cause of the damage can be acquired or inherited. "Acquired" means you aren't born with the condition, but you develop it.Aug 22, 2012 read more

Aplastic anemia occurs when blood-forming stem cells in bone marrow can't produce enough red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets. The cells that are made are normal. Sometimes there's a genetic cause that was passed from parent to child, but most often it results from the accidental destruction of stem cells by the immune system. read more

Aplastic anemia can lead to other health concerns such as an irregular heartbeat, an enlarged heart, and heart failure. It can be caused by injury to blood stem cells due to exposure to certain drugs, chemotherapy, congenital disorders, drug therapy to suppress the immune system, pregnancy, radiation therapy, or toxins such as benzene or arsenic. read more