What is Congenital Dyserythropoietic Anemia?
Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia (CDA) is a group of rare, inherited blood disorders. People with CDA do not produce red blood cells normally. This typically results in anemia (low red blood cell count) and too much iron in the body. Over time, CDA can cause organ damage.
Congenital dyserythropoietic anemias can be diagnosed at any age. Symptoms vary depending on what type of CDA a person has. CDA is so rare that some doctors who specialize in blood disorders can go years without diagnosing a patient with this condition.
The name congenital dyserythropoietic anemia comes from:
- Congenital, meaning present from birth (although CDA can be diagnosed much later)
- Dyserythropoietic, referring to the defective development of red blood cells, also called erythrocytes
- Anemia, a condition in which a person lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry enough oxygen to the body's tissues
