Pure Red-Cell Aplasia

PURE red-cell aplasia is a condition in which human beings suddenly stop producing red cells.1 , 2 Their blood contains virtually no reticulocytes, and their bone marrow has almost no erythroblasts. However, they continue to make normal numbers of white cells and platelets, and their marrow has a normal cellularity. This disease is distinct from aplastic anemia, in which the marrow is depleted of all hematopoietic cells.3 Approximately half the patients with pure red-cell aplasia have thymomas.1 , 4 , 5 Because 25 to 30 per cent experience remission of the anemia when the thymomas are removed, it has been suggested that the disease is caused . . .