Aplastic Anaemia

Reaction to the Pneumococcal vaccine according to the manufacturer.  As listed on the package insert, death was also a result for some children during the trial of the vaccine before licensure.

<haematology> This form of anaemia occurs when the bone marrow ceases sufficient red and white blood cell production. It may be induced by exposures to high levels of toxic chemicals, radiation and certain drugs.

It is generally unresponsive to specific therapy, often accompanied by granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia, in which the bone marrow may not necessarily be hypocellular or hypoplastic but fails to produce adequate numbers of peripheral blood elements. The term actually is all inclusive and most probably encompasses several clinical syndromes.

Origin: Gr. Haima = blood

(29 Sep 1997)