Wartime Occurrence of Severe Aplastic Anemia in Previously Healthy Military Service Members: A Case Series.
Pavlo O Dubovetskyi, Svitlana A Husieva, Ian P Goncharov et al.
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Case in brief
Three previously healthy military service members developed idiopathic severe aplastic anemia (SAA) during active duty, presenting with cytopenias and hemorrhagic symptoms. Initial misdiagnoses included immune thrombocytopenia and myelodysplastic syndrome, compounded by delays in treatment due to wartime conditions. All patients required transfusion support and antibiotics for complications. Two received immunosuppressive therapy, while one underwent urgent bone marrow transplantation. All survived the acute phase but remained transfusion-dependent at discharge.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should be aware that severe aplastic anemia can present in previously healthy individuals, particularly in wartime settings, and may be misclassified initially.
Why it matters
This case highlights the critical need for improved medical logistics and timely access to specialized care for hematologic conditions in military environments.