Blood AdvancesApproach to the Diagnosis of Aplastic Anemia

Without definitive treatment, mortality from severe aplastic anemia (AA) approaches 70% at 2 years. Establishing an accurate etiology of the AA is challenging but also absolutely critical to appropriate management, especially differentiating between acquired and inherited forms of the disease. This review emphasizes the newer data on molecular (somatic and germline) findings in AA and how they are (or are not) helpful during diagnosis.