Aplastic Anemia And Myelodysplastic Syndromes International Foundation
Contact details for Aplastic Anemia And Myelodysplastic Syndromes International Foundation
Name: Aplastic Anemia And Myelodysplastic Syndromes International Foundation (AA&MDSIF) Address: PO Box 310 Churchton Maryland 20733 United States Telephone: 410 867 0242 800 747 2820 Toll Free Fax: 410 867 0240 Website: www.aamds.org
About Aplastic Anemia And Myelodysplastic Syndromes International Foundation - AA&MDSIF
The Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation (AA&MDSIF) is an independent non profit organization.
Founded in 1983 by patients, families and doctors, the AA&MDSIF mission is to support patients, families, and caregivers coping with Aplastic Anemia (AA), Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH), and related bone marrow failure diseases.
The Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation:
- Provides - educational materials, medical information, and access to peer support via a global network of volunteers who offer hope to those struggling with bone marrow failure diseases.
- Builds - awareness and knowledge of bone marrow failure diseases among medical and healthcare professionals and the general public.
- Raises - public and private support for research to improve patient treatments, restore patients to health, and ultimately, to find cures for bone marrow failure diseases.
What is aplastic anemia?
Aplastic anemia occurs when bone marrow stops making enough blood forming stem cells. In all three blood lines; red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, patients with aplastic anemia have a low blood count. The bone marrow is found to be aplastic which means there is a low growth of blood forming stem cells.
Symptoms of aplastic anemia include:
- bleeding
- shortness of breath
- dizziness
- cognitive impairment
- bruising
- petachiae (small red/purple spots on the skin)
- susceptibility to infections
Aplastic anemia treatments
Treatments vary on a case by case basis. Age is often the determining factor for which treatment to use. Stem cell transplantation may be used for individuals younger than 30 years and who have a matched sibling donor . Stem cell transplantation is a procedure which replaces defective bone marrow with healthy cells. Around 80% of patients make a complete recovery using stem cell transplantation.
For older patients with aplastic anemia, immune suppressing therapy with anti-thymocyte globulin(ATG) and cyclosporin is typically used. Around 70-80% of aplastic anemia patients respond to this treatment.