Diamond Blackfan Anaemia Syndrome is a rare blood condition that effects how red blood cells are made inside the body. It is a genetic disorder, which means it is something that a person is born with.

DBA stops the bone marrow from making enough red blood cells. As a result, patients must receive regular blood transfusions to survive. Some babies receive transfusions in the womb, before they are born.

Most patients will receive regular blood transfusions as part of their treatment to help get their red blood cell count back to normal levels. These then begin to deplete until it’s time for another transfusion. Some patients can receive steroid based treatment which helps their bone marrow work more effectively, but this doesn’t work for everyone.  Other’s will need a stem cell transplant (also sometimes called a bone marrow transplant) to help put their DBA symptoms into remission. You can learn more about bone marrow donation here.