Anemia, Fanconi - General Discussion

SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS

Fanconi anemia, also known as aplastic anemia with congenital anomalies, is a rare genetic disorder that may be apparent at birth or during childhood. In some cases, Fanconi anemia might not be diagnosed until adulthood. It is an inherited predisposition to gene mutations, probably because of a poor ability to repair chromosome damage (chromosome instability). It predisposes to damage to stem cells and eventually to leukemic transformation. The disorder is characterized by a deficiency of all bone marrow elements including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets (pancytopenia). Fanconi anemia may also be associated with heart (cardiac), kidney (renal), and/or skeletal abnormalities. It is commonly accompanied by patchy, brown discolorations (pigmentation changes) of the skin. There are several different subtypes (complementation groups) of Fanconi anemia, each of which is thought to result from an abnormal change (mutation) to a different gene. Each subtype appears to share the same characteristic symptoms and findings (phenotype). Most cases of Fanconi anemia have autosomal recessive inheritance. Fanconi anemia is not related in any way to Fanconi syndrome, a rare kidney disorder.

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated: 4/6/2009
Copyright 1986, 2989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2009National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

Advertisement

See All News

Advertisement
  • Join
  • About iVillage
  • Message Boards
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising Info
  • Jobs
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • AdChoices
© 2000-2013 iVillage Inc. All rights reserved. A Division of NBCUniversal