Fanconi Anemia

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare inherited condition that affects your bone marrow and many other parts of your body. Your bone marrow is the spongy tissue in the center of your bones that creates stem cells that become red and white blood cells and platelets. If you have Fanconi anemia, your bone marrow doesn’t create healthy blood cells and platelets. People with FA have an increased risk of developing blood disorders and some kinds of cancer. FA also causes physical abnormalities that can affect people’s organs and appearances. People with FA that’s caused blood disorders are living longer and with fewer medical issues because they’re able to have bone marrow transplants.

Common FA Symptoms

Fanconi anemia affects people in many different ways, starting with how our bodies develop during gestation. FA may cause different symptoms linked to many different conditions, including anemia, bone marrow failure syndrome (aplastic anemia), cancer and physical abnormalities. For example, someone with FA may be very short or have problems with their bone structure. Many people have FA but don’t have obvious signs or symptoms.

Anemia Symptoms

Anemia is a common sign of FA. Symptoms include:

• Fatigue. People with anemia may feel too tired to carry on with their daily activities.
• Pale skin color.
• Difficulty catching their breath.
• Feeling as if their heart is racing.
• Headaches.

Treatment for Fanconi Anemia

Typically, healthcare providers focus on treatments to manage blood disorders that FA causes, including:

• Bone marrow transplant:
  Healthcare providers may recommend a bone marrow transplant to treat leukemia, pre-leukemia or bone marrow failure.
• Androgen therapy:
  This treatment stimulates your red blood cell production. Healthcare providers may recommend this treatment if you have anemia.
• >Synthetic growth factors:
  Growth factors stimulate your bone marrow to make more red and white blood cells. Healthcare providers may recommend synthetic versions to boost bone marrow blood cell production.
• Surgery:
  Healthcare providers may use surgery to correct physical abnormalities or repair damaged organs.

Prevention

Fanconi anemia is an inherited disorder. That means you can’t reduce your risk of developing FA. That said, if you have a family history of FA, you may want genetic testing to find out if you’re carrying FA. Not everyone who carries FA develops medical conditions. Likewise, not all people who carry FA pass it on to their children. Genetic testing will help you to understand your situation.