We know that certain chemicals such as benzene can cause acquired aplastic anemia. Many chemotherapy drugs and radiation treatment can damage the bone marrow but usually don't cause aplastic anemia. The most common causes are drugs and virus infections, particularly viral hepatitis. Environmental pollutants are another cause.

Doctors have tried to figure out how medicines, chemicals, and viruses can cause this disease. The most commonly accepted explanation is that these agents cause an abnormal immune reaction in the body of some people. In this reaction, a type of immune cell called the T-cell (or T-lymphocyte) starts making too much of certain substances called cytokines. These cytokines are toxic to bone marrow cells and can cause them to die. Knowing that the anemia is caused by an immune reaction has led to the modern treatment of this disease, which has been very successful (see the section, "How is aplastic anemia treated?").

Last Medical Review: 06/17/2009
Last Revised: 06/17/2009