Body Not Producing Blood

[jan945]

My Dad is 93 yrs. old.  He had a blood transfusion about six weeks ago and again last week.  He took 7 units of blood.  The doctor told my Mother that his body is no longer producing blood? Does anyone know what could possibly be going on?  

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  The cellular components of blood (red cell, white cell, platelets) are produced in the bone marrow.  If your dad's doctor said that "his body is no longer producing blood", he most likely has something wrong in his bone marrow, which prevents it from producing blood.  Various conditions can result in bone marrow injury/ destruction.  Cancer (e.g. leukemia or lymphoma) can directly invade and destroy bone marrow cells.  Certain chemicals (e.g. benzene), drugs, infection (e.g. hepatitis or Epstein-Barr viruses) or radiation exposure can also damage the marrow, leading to a condition called aplastic anemia.  I think a bone marrow biopsy or aspiration is necessary to find out what your father's condition is.

[Mbhunty]

My brother has this same problem and they did a bone marrow biopsy which showed no kind of cancer and no hepatitis. They can not get a diagnosis are there any rare conditions that you know of that could cause this he is 68 years old and in good health otherwise.  

[Sara_MHModerator]

Hello Mbhunty.  We are sorry to hear about your brother.  Are they terming this "aplastic anemia"?  Do they have any treatment suggestions for him such as bone marrow transplant. Here is some information on aplastic anemia.  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aplastic-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355015