Aplastic anaemia is a rare and life-threatening blood disorder caused by the bone marrow not functioning properly. In people with aplastic anaemia, the bone marrow fails to produce enough of all three types of blood cells – red, white and platelets. 

• Red blood cells are essential for carrying oxygen around the body
• White blood cells help us fight infections, bugs and germs
• Platelets are responsible for stopping us bleeding and bruising 

The word ‘aplastic’ means the body’s inability to create new cells, so that tissue cannot grow or regenerate.

There are also other types of anaemia, which differ from aplastic anaemia and affect the body in different ways. You can find out more about some of these types of anaemia by looking below.

Iron deficiency anaemia

Iron deficiency anaemia is one of the most common types of anaemia. People can develop iron deficiency anaemia when there is not enough iron in their body.

Iron deficiency anaemia can cause fatigue, which can be severe if the iron levels are extremely low. In the first instance, iron deficiency anaemia can usually be treated easily with iron tablets.

You can find out more about iron deficiency anaemia on the NHS website by clicking on the button below.

Find out more about iron deficiency anaemia

Haemolytic anaemia

Haemolytic anaemia is a condition where red blood cells are destroyed in the body faster than they can be produced. It can be inherited, with the genes causing the condition passed down from generation to generation, or ‘acquired’, or caused by a number of other factors, such as infection or certain medications, for example. People with haemolytic anaemia may experience weakness and fatigue, dark coloured urine and pale skin, for example.

You can find out more about haemolytic anaemia on the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust website by clicking on the button below.

Find out more about haemolytic anaemia

Sickle cell anaemia

Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited form of haemolytic anaemia which results in the haemoglobin protein in your red blood cells being abnormal, causing the red blood cells to be rigid. This can cause issues with circulation and blood flow around the body, as the rigid red blood cells can clog blood vessels. People with sickle cell anaemia can experience symptoms such as severe pain, and ,longer term can experience organ damage.

You can find out more about sickle cell anaemia and other related conditions on the Sickle Cell Society website by clicking on the button below.

Find out more about sickle cell anaemia

Macrocytic anaemia

Macrocytic anaemia is a condition whereby the body produces blood cells that are larger than normal. A person with macrocytic anaemia will also have low levels of haemoglobin (a protein which carries oxygen around the body) in their blood.

Macrocytic anaemia can cause a wide range of symptoms, including weakness, tiredness and fatigue, palpitations and shortness of breath.

You can find out more about macrocytic anaemia on the patient.info website by clicking on the button below. 

Find out more about macrocytic anaemia

Pernicious anaemia

Pernicious anaemia is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks cells in the stomach which help the body to absorb Vitamin B12. This results in a person being unable to absorb vitamin B12 properly.

People with pernicious anaemia may experience a variety of symptoms, including a tingling sensation in the hands and feet, or ‘pins and needles’, feelings of numbness, balance problems, fatigue, shortness of breath and dizziness, amongst others.

You can find out more about pernicious anaemia on the Pernicious Anaemia Society website by clicking on the button below.

Find out more about pernicious anaemia