By Brandi Bard

When Devin, a healthy six year old boy suddenly began to bruise for no obvious or apparent reason his mother took him to his routine physical. But when the bruises were mentioned, the Doctor suggested lab tests. The tests revealed a platelet count which should have been between 150 - 300, but was found to be only 10. The physician requested a repeat visit for further tests, which revealed no production of clotting elements in the blood and that his blood level of oxygen carrying cells to be critically low.

This was due to a bout with the flu and required multiple transfusions of platelets. He also received Prednisone and ATG, as well as anti-thymacyte globulin, a horse serum intravenously in the hospital.

Devin's diagnosis turned out to be Aplastic Anemia. All of Devin's family members have been tested as possible bone marrow donors but though both of Devin's older siblings matched each other, no one in the family was a candidate to become a donor for Devin ( in the general public, there is only a 1 in 2,00,000 chance for a match.

Devin is now 7 years old, an otherwise happy child who attends second grade mostly at home since he still must be careful not to have any contact injuries such as from sports or falls. Devin is a good student whose reading and math skills are a full grade higher than most students his age. He has a good sense of humor and great strength, both emotionally and physically, as well as a strong belief and connection with God.

Blood platelets and whole blood are always needed. PLEASE check with your local Red Cross and your hospital for donation sites. Patients like Devin often need to be transfused twice a week, just as Devin has done for a year.

TO FURTHER UNDERSTAND DEVIN'S PLIGHT,WE HAVE ASKED A LOCAL PHYSICIAN FOR HIS ASSISTANCE - - READ WHAT HE HAS TO SAY, BELOW:

APLASTIC ANEMIA

By Sheldon J. Davidson M.D. F.A.C.E

Aplastic anemia is a condition in which the quantity of bone marrow is reduced and the ability to produce the blood cells, therefore is below normal. There are degrees of aplastic anemia but in severe aplastic anemia, the bone marrow is virtually empty of blood-forming cells and with this condition, therefore, are at a high risk for infection and bleeding and require transfusions to maintain their blood. In less severe cases, the bone marrow quantity may be reduced, but to a lesser degree and the blood count may be reduced, but also to a degree that is not as life threatening. In the majority of cases of aplastic anemia, the cause is unknown. It can occur after exposure to certain toxins and certain drugs, which can damage the bone marrow. It can be seen after certain viral infections, most particular HEPATITIS virus, and would represent a very serious complication of that infection. In some cases, withdrawal of the drug results in recovery, but in other cases, when the damage is severe, that is not the case

In a significant percentage of patients with aplastic anemia, particularly when the cause is unknown, the mechanism appears to be immunologic. That is, some immune protein that the body makes is actually attacking the marrow stem cells and causing them to disappear. Therefore a treatment to suppress the imune system can allow the bone marrow to grow back and produce a remission, either partial or complete. The most common drug used is antithyocite globulin, which targets T-lymphocytes. Such drugs as CYCLOSPORINE, used to prevent graft rejection, also have efficacy.

In patients who fail to respond to this kind of immune suppressive therapy, and who are young enough to withstand bone marrow transplant from a donor who is compatible can result in recovery. Bone marrow transplant can represent a cure in a significant percentage of patients, though only a limited number of patients will have compatible donors. Patients who have severe aplastic anemia, cannot have transplants and do not respond to immunosuppressive medications and overall survival tends to be quite short.