Clinical observation on 61 cases of apastic anemia diagnosed at Busan University Hospital from Jan. 1968 to June 1974 were reviewed.
1. The annual distribution of aplastic anemia showed progressive increasing tendency during. this period. The highest incidences were observed on second. and third decades of life and male to female ratio was 1.6 : 1.
2. Exposure to toxic agents was thought to be the possible etiologic factors in 18 cases(29.5%), among which chloramphenicol was counted in 7 cases (11. 5 %), herb medicine 5 cases, and various other agents in the remaining. .The causes were unknown in 43 cases (70.5%).
3. On admission, purpura was noted in 31´ cases (50.8%), hemorrhage in 27 cases (44.3%), and fever in 23 cases (37.7%).
4. As far as initial hemoglobin is concerned, all cases showed, less than 9.5 gm/dl, and severe ane mia with hemoglobin level of 6 gm/dl or .less was noticed in 37 cases (61%). Neutrophil count of less than 4, 000/mm3 was found in 44 cases (72%) and a platelet count of less than 150, 000/mm3 in 58 cases (95.1%).
5. Examination of bone marrow aspiration showed "aplastic" in 42,cases (69.9%) and "hypoplastic" in 19 cases (30.1%).
6. The prognosis was not favorable in 30 cases of follow up studies for 1 year and 6 month, and remission in only 4 cases, steady state in 3 cases and death in. 23 cases (76.7%) were noted.
7. The direct causes of the death were.hemorrhage in 9 cases (39.2%), and infection in 7 cases.
8. All aplastic anemia patients were treated with whole blood transfusion and corticosteroid,combined with testosterone.
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