Diagnosis and management of acquired pure red cell aplasia

Pure red cell aplasia is a syndrome characterized by a severe normocytic anemia, reticulocytopenia, and absence of erythroblasts from an otherwise normal bone marrow. Although the causes and natural course of this syndrome are variable and although the anemia in some patients can be managed by treatment of an underlying inflammatory or neoplastic disease, the pathogenesis of a large number of cases is autoimmune, including those associated with thymoma, and are best managed with immunosuppressive therapy.