Revisiting the first reported case of aplastic anaemia

The great pathologist Paul Ehrlich in Berlin is commonly credited with describing the first clear case of aplastic anaemia in 1888: a 21-year-old woman who presented with haemorrhage and signs and symptoms of severe anaemia, quickly succumbing to her illness. Ehrlich's description of this patient's background and clinical course allowed individual identification. Re-analysis of this case suggests an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome as a possible additional diagnosis.

Automated summary

Paul Ehrlich in 1888 described a case of aplastic anaemia in a 21-year-old woman, who presented with severe symptoms and eventually died. Re-analysis of the case suggests the possibility of an additional diagnosis of inherited bone marrow failure syndrome.