The prognosis of aplastic anaemia depends on its causes, general health condition of the patient, severity of the disease, patient’s age and response to the therapy. Cases of aplastic anaemia that are caused by certain medications, low-dose radiation or infectious mononucleosis are often treated in a short duration of time.
There are two main types of treatments that are given to the patients of aplastic anaemia— bone marrow transplantation and immunosuppressive therapies, however, blood transfusions are also given in certain cases.
Aplastic anaemia can be fatal if blood cell counts are extremely low and patient’s condition has become severe. Around 70 to 90 percent patients, who receive bone marrow from their siblings, survive successfully, whereas, survival rate is extremely poor in those, who receive it from unrelated bone marrow donor.
In certain cases, in which bone marrow transplantation isn’t a treatment option, about 50-60 percent of patients respond well to immunosuppressive therapy alone.
Patients with severe aplastic anaemia, who don’t respond to any of the available treatments, have strong chances of dying within the 18-24 months of the treatment.
Older people, who can’t be given bone marrow transplants, people who can’t’ get suitable bone marrow match and those who receive immunosuppressive therapies have five-year survival rate.
Patients of aplastic anaemia have an increased risk of developing leukaemia than healthy individuals.
Women, who develop this blood cell disorder during pregnancy, have strong chances of developing it again in their future pregnancies.