Last Updated on May 16, 2025 by Analgesia team
Pure Red Cell Aplasia & Anaemia
PRCA is a form of chronic anaemia caused by a near-complete failure of red cell production in the bone marrow. The condition results in low red blood cell counts, often with normal white blood cells and platelets.
In simpler terms: The factory (bone marrow) keeps making soldiers (white blood cells) and medics (platelets), but stops producing transporters (red blood cells), leading to oxygen delivery problems.
Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) |
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What it is |
A rare blood disorder that causes anemia by reducing the bone marrow’s production of red blood cells
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Causes |
PRCA can be either congenital (present from birth) or acquired later in life. Acquired PRCA may be linked to:
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Symptoms |
People with PRCA often experience symptoms related to severe anaemia, including:
Lab findings include:
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Treatment |
Treatment depends on the underlying cause:
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PRCA can be a complication of major or bidirectional ABO-incompatible allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants (allo-HSCT). It can also be associated with collagen vascular/autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus, lymphoproliferative disorders such as chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or large granular lymphocyte leukaemia, infections, particularly B19 parvovirus, thymoma and other solid tumours.