Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a rare blood disorder that occurs when the bone marrow fails to make red blood cells, which are essential for carrying oxygen from the lungs to all the other parts of the body. DBA is a potentially life-threatening condition that can cause severe anemia and other abnormalities.
Diamond-Blackfan Anemia Treatment
Children and teens with Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) are treated through our Bone Marrow Failure Program, recognized as one of the nation’s best pediatric treatment and research programs for bone marrow failure and related conditions. Our patients have access to advanced treatments and diagnosis, including DNA mutation identification and ongoing clinical trials investigating new treatments. Stem cell (bone marrow) transplant is currently the only cure for DBA.
What causes Diamond-Blackfan anemia?
Diamond-Blackfan anemia is a genetic disease that affects the body’s ribosomes, which are small cellular structures that play an important role in building proteins in the body. More than half of children with DBA have mutations in a ribosomal protein gene, and mutations at least 11 such genes have been linked to DBA.
In rare cases, DBA in boys can be due to a mutation in a gene called GATA-1, which controls the earliest steps of red blood cell production.
What are the symptoms of Diamond-Blackfan anemia?
Most children experience symptoms very early in life. As a result, Diamond-Blackfan anemia is usually diagnosed before a child’s first birthday, though it can appear at any age. The most common symptoms of Diamond-Blackfan anemia are:
- Pale skin
- Lack of energy or tiring easily (fatigue); infants may get tired during feeding
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
About 40 percent of children with DBA may also have one or more of the following physical characteristics:
- Short stature
- Head, face and neck abnormalities
- Thumb defects
- Kidney or heart defects
How is Diamond-Blackfan anemia diagnosed?
To diagnose Diamond-Blackfan anemia, a child’s physician may order some or all of the following tests:
- Blood tests – including a complete blood count with reticulocytes (in DBA, this test shows an abnormally low number of red blood cells and reticulocytes [young red cells], but normal numbers of white cells and platelets)
- Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy – marrow may be removed by aspiration and a needle biopsy under local anesthesia and conscious sedation so that the child remains calm and comfortable during the procedure. In a bone marrow aspiration, a fluid specimen is removed from the bone marrow. In a needle biopsy, marrow cells (not fluid) are removed. These methods are always used together.
- Additional blood tests including genetic tests to confirm the diagnosis or to test for other similar types of anemia that can affect children.
After all tests are completed, doctors will be able to outline the best treatment options.
What is the treatment for Diamond-Blackfan anemia?
Treatment of Diamond-Blackfan anemia may include:
- Steroid therapy – to increase hemoglobin by stimulating the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. The majority of children respond well to steroid therapy, and the dose can be often be weaned to a low dose that causes few side effects.
- Blood transfusion – used when anemia is unusually severe or when steroid therapy is not effective
- Stem cell transplant – At present, this is the only cure for Diamond-Blackfan anemia. Stem cell transplantation involves replacing of diseased blood-forming stem cells with another person’s healthy stem cells. Unfortunately it may not be an option for everyone. The success of a transplant depends on many factors, such as how close the match is between child and donor and the patient’s age. Matched siblings are best; if your child has a sibling, the chance of a complete tissue match is 1 in 4. The degree to which your child’s bone marrow has failed also factors into the discussion whether to pursue a transplant. The decision to proceed with bone marrow transplant should be discussed with your child’s hematologist and a stem cell transplant team.
Children who receive transfusions may eventually develop iron overload and need to take additional medications (iron chelation therapy) in order to remove excess iron from the body. We also offer special MRI tests that monitor the iron content of the heart and liver during treatment.
What is the latest research on Diamond-Blackfan anemia?
The Bone Marrow Failure Program
In addition to providing information and access to local and national research initiatives, our clinic offers multidisciplinary care (physician specialists, dentists, nurse practitioners, social workers) and consultative services for patients with Diamond-Blackfan anemia.
What is the long-term outlook for children with Diamond-Blackfan anemia?
Children with Diamond-Blackfan anemia require lifelong follow-up care to manage symptoms, give therapies such as steroids and blood transfusions, or monitor a child’s health following a stem cell transplant.
Severe cases of DBA require lifelong treatment for potentially life-threatening anemia and other complications. New methods are continually being discovered to improve treatment and decrease side effects of therapies.
