Post-hepatitic aplastic anaemia in children in Taiwan, a hepatitis prevalent area

Br J Haematol. 1990 Apr;74(4):487-91. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1990.tb06339.x.

Abstract

Aplastic anaemia is a rare but serious complication of hepatitis, and hepatitis is an unusual cause of aplastic anaemia in children in the West. However, the relative frequencies of acquired aplastic anaemia in children in Taiwan, a hepatitis prevalent area, differ from those in the West, in the very high frequency of post-hepatitic aplastic anaemia (23.9% of all cases of aplastic anaemia). This may account for the higher incidence of aplastic anaemia in children in Taiwan. Although the prognosis of post-hepatitic severe aplastic anaemia was very poor, the present study using bone marrow transplantation, antithymocyte (or antilymphocyte) globulin, high-dose methylprednisolone and cyclosporin, etc., has improved the response rate and the survival.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anemia, Aplastic / etiology*
  • Anemia, Aplastic / mortality
  • Anemia, Aplastic / therapy
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Hepatitis Antibodies / analysis
  • Hepatitis B Antigens / analysis
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / complications*
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / immunology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Taiwan
  • Virus Diseases / complications

Substances

  • Hepatitis Antibodies
  • Hepatitis B Antigens