[Aplastic anemia and pure red cell aplasia].

Aplastic anemia (AA) is a disorder characterized by the presence of pancytopenia and a hypocellular bone marrow. Acquired pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), a part of a unique form of AA, is a rare condition of profound anemia characterized by the absence of reticulocytes and the virtual absence of erythroid precursors in the bone marrow. AA can be effectively treated by either stem cell transplantation or immunosuppressive therapy. However, PRCA has so far been treated by several different regimens which are largely empirically selected since so little control data are available. This issue focuses on the current progress in the treatment of acquired AA and PRCA.