Etymology
Aplastic is a combination of two ancient Greek elements: a- (meaning "not") and -plasis ("forming into a shape"). Anemia is a combination of the ancient Greek element an- ("not") and -emia (new Latin from the Greek -(h)aimia, meaning "blood"). Epidemiology
Aplastic anemia is a rare, noncancerous disorder in which the blood marrow is unable to adequately produce blood cells required for survival. It is estimated that the incidence of aplastic anemia is 0.7–4.1 cases per million people worldwide, with the prevalence between men and women being approximately equal. The incidence rate of aplastic anemia in Asia is 2–3 times higher than it is in the West; the incidence in the United States is 300–900 cases per year. The disease most commonly affects adults aged 15–25 and over the age of 60, but it can be observed in all age groups.The disease is usually acquired during life and not inherited. Acquired cases are often linked to environmental exposures such as chemicals, drugs, and infectious agents that damage the bone marrow and compromise its ability to generate new blood cells. However, in many instances the underlying cause for the disease is not found. This is referred to as idiopathic aplastic anemia and accounts for 75% of cases. This compromises the effectiveness of treatment since treatment of the disease is often aimed at the underlying cause.Those with a higher risk for aplastic anemia include individuals who are exposed to high-dose radiation or toxic chemicals, take certain prescription drugs, have pre-existing autoimmune disorders or blood diseases, or are pregnant.
Plateau iris is a less common medical condition of the eye resulting from anterior displacement of the peripheral iris by the ciliary body causing angle closure glaucoma. First line treatment for all causes of narrow angle glaucoma is laser iridotomy. If narrow angle glaucoma persists after iridotomy then it is called plateau iris syndrome and subsequently managed either medically (miotics) or surgically (laser peripheral iridoplasty). Plateau iris is a less common form of narrow angle glaucoma and is sometimes discovered after an iridotomy causes a rapid increase in eye pressure. Since this condition is not common, most ophthalmologists are unfamiliar with, and have little experience with, the anatomy of and treatments for this condition. References
Further reading
Wand, M; Grant, WM; Simmons, RJ; Hutchinson, BT (January 1977). "Plateau iris syndrome". Transactions. Section on Ophthalmology. American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology. 83 (1): 122–130. PMID 898466. NAID 10029605696. Pavlin, Charles J.; Ritch, Robert; Foster, F. Stuart (April 1992). "Ultrasound Biomicroscopy in Plateau Iris Syndrome". American Journal of Ophthalmology. 113 (4): 390–395. doi:10.1016/s0002-9394(14)76160-4. PMID 1558112. Ritch, Robert (April 1992). "Plateau Iris Is Caused by Abnormally Positioned Ciliary Processes". Journal of Glaucoma. 1 (1): 23–26. doi:10.1097/00061198-199204000-00006. S2CID 72047734. Diniz Filho, Alberto; Cronemberger, Sebastião; Mérula, Rafael Vidal; Calixto, Nassim (October 2008). "Plateau iris". Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia. 71 (5): 752–758. doi:10.1590/S0004-27492008000500029. PMID 19039479. Ritch, Robert; Tham, Clement C.Y; Lam, Dennis S.C (January 2004). "Long-term success of argon laser peripheral iridoplasty in the management of plateau iris syndrome". Ophthalmology. 111 (1): 104–108. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2003.05.001. PMID 14711720.