Anemia is the condition in which your body does not make sufficient red blood cells. The most common form of this disease is iron-deficiency anemia. However, there are other rare forms of anemia that we have highlighted in the article below.

Aplastic or hypoplastic anemia
When the bone marrow is damaged and unable to produce sufficient new blood cells, it results in one of the rare forms of anemia known as aplastic anemia. You can be born with this condition (inherited from parents) or develop it. The acquired form of this condition is more common and can sometimes be temporary.

Causes

• Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
• Infections such as hepatitis and HIV
• Treatments for cancer such as radiation or chemotherapy
• Exposure to chemicals such as arsenic, pesticides, and benzene
• Inherited conditions such as Diamond-Blackfananemia and Fanconi anemia

Symptoms

• Dizziness and headaches
• Pale skin
• Chest pain
• Cold hands and feet
• Increase heart rate (tachycardia)

Treatment

• Blood transfusion
• Stem cell transplant to replace the damaged cells with healthy cells.

Sideroblastic anemia
When the body cannot use the iron absorbed through food to make hemoglobin, abnormal red blood cells are formed. The acquired form of this condition, one of the rare forms of anemia, is caused by exposure to certain chemicals and drugs. Gene mutations that disrupt the normal production of hemoglobin results in hereditary sideroblastic anemia.

Symptoms

• Chest pain
• Tachycardia
• Headaches
• Breathing issues

Treatment

• For the acquired form of this condition avoiding the chemical or drug that is causing it should help
• Other treatments are vitamin B6 therapy and stem cell or bone marrow transplant

Fanconi anemia
This is a type of anemia occurs when the bone marrow does not produce enough blood cells. It is an inherited condition. This condition increases the risk of acute myeloid leukemia and cancers of the genitals, neck, skin, and gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms

• Abnormal thumbs
• Bone, kidney, and heart issues
• Small head, eyes, and body

Treatment

• Hormone therapy
• Administration of growth factors to boost the growth of blood cells

Megaloblastic anemia
In this condition, the bone marrow produces red blood cells that have an abnormal structure. It can be caused due to a deficiency of vitamin B9 or vitamin B12.

Symptoms

• Diarrhea and nausea
• Tachycardia
• Pale skin
• Muscle pain or weakness
• Dizziness
• Breathing issues

Treatment

• To overcome the deficiency of vitamin B9 and vitamin B12, supplements would be prescribed and administered.

Some rare forms of anemia are inherited, whereas others are acquired, however, in most cases, these rare forms of anemia are treatable.