Epidemiology and aetiology of aplastic anemia.
Epidemiological data show that the incidence of aplastic anemia is a least 4-5 times as high in the far East as in the West. The reason seems to be complex--a number of exogenic factors act against a background of genetic differences in susceptibility. A Swedish study of aplastic anemia shows the overall incidence to be 13 cases per million inhabitants and year, but also that the incidence varies greatly with age (range 4-61 cases per million). Drugs are the single most important aetiologic factor. Chloramphenicol is the most common offender, but in many countries it now has been replaced by the anti-inflammatory agents phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone. In Sweden the latter also have disappeared and sulfonamide preparations dominate among drugs causing aplasia.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000009:adverse effects; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005202:Asia, Eastern; D005260:Female; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000150:complications; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden
D002701:Chloramphenicol