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No HPO annotations are available for this condition.
DBA syndrome is characterized by early-onset hypoplastic anemia. Congenital anomalies are observed in approximately 50% of affected individuals and more than one anomaly is observed in up to 25% of individuals. Additional features include growth deficiency and predisposition to malignancy. Table 2. DBA Syndrome: Frequency of Select Features
DBA syndrome should be suspected in individuals with the following clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic features, and no evidence of another inherited disorder of bone marrow function.
Clinical features
Pallor, weakness, poor weight gain
Growth deficiency (observed in 30%)
No approved treatments are currently available for Diamond-Blackfan anemia 2. The disease remains an area of unmet medical need.
Clinical practice guidelines for treatment and surveillance of individuals with DBA syndrome have been published . Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis To establish the extent of disease and needs in an individual diagnosed with DBA syndrome, the evaluations summarized (if not performed as part of the evaluation that led to the diagnosis) are recommended. Table 4. DBA Syndrome: Recommended Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis
To monitor existing manifestations, the individual's response to supportive care, and the emergence of new manifestations, the evaluations summarized in are recommended.
Table 7.
DBA Syndrome: Recommended Surveillance
System/Concern | Evaluation | Frequency
| Complete blood count | 1-2x/yr in responsive persons when hemoglobin is stable
No clinical trials have been registered for Diamond-Blackfan anemia 2.
36 publications have been identified in PubMed for Diamond-Blackfan anemia 2. Research spans Case Report / Case Series (31%), Basic Science / Preclinical (31%), and Review / Meta-Analysis (8%).
Research Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
Patient case studies | 11 | 31% |
Data assembled from 4 of 12 sources · Last updated Sep 19, 2026, 1:57 PM UTC
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man
Genetic and Rare Diseases Info Center
Common questions about Diamond-Blackfan anemia 2
Feature | % of Personsw/Feature1 | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Anemia | 99% | 90% in 1st year of life; Rarely, DBA syndrome is diagnosed w/o anemia. |
Craniofacial features | 27% | — |
Upper-limb anomalies | 16% | — |
Genitourinary malformations | 13% | — |
Heart defects | 11% | — |
Growth deficiency | 30% | — |
Malignancy | 2%-5% | Acute myelogenous leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, solid tumors incl osteogenic sarcoma lung, colon, cervical carcinomas 1. Anemia. The primary hematologic feature of DBA syndrome is a profound normochromic, macrocytic anemia with normal leukocytes and platelets. |
Source: GeneReviews — "DBA Syndrome"
Laboratory features
Macrocytic anemia with no other significant cytopenias
Increased erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume
Reticulocytopenia
Elevated erythrocyte adenosine deaminase activity (observed in 80%-85%)
Elevated hemoglobin F concentration
Negative parvovirus B19 PCR testing in blood or bone marrow and negative serology
Source: GeneReviews — "DBA Syndrome"
Acquired Disorders of Bone Marrow Erythroid Hypoplasia
Primary
Transient erythroblastopenia of childhood
(TEC) is characterized by acquired anemia caused by decreased production of red blood cell precursors in a previously healthy child . The etiology of TEC is unknown, although an association with viral infections has been proposed. TEC is almost always self-resolving within one to several months and only requires clinical intervention (red blood cell transfusion) in severe cases. Features that distinguish TEC from DBA syndrome include older age at diagnosis: more than 80% of children with TEC are age one year or older at diagnosis. Only 10% of children with TEC have elevated erythrocyte adenosine deaminase activity. In children with TEC, anemia is normocytic.
Source: GeneReviews — "DBA Syndrome"
Biomarker and diagnostic research for Diamond-Blackfan anemia 2 has been reported in the published literature.
System/Concern | Evaluation | Comment |
|---|---|---|
anomalies | Eval by clinical pediatric hematologist geneticist for congenital malformations incl cleft lip/palate | Skeletal anomalies |
Cardiology | Eval by cardiologist incl echocardiography | — |
Endocrine | Growth assessment | — |
Development | Developmental assessment | Genetic |
counseling | By genetics professionals1 | To obtain a pedigree inform affected persons their families re nature, MOI, implications of DBA syndrome to facilitate medical personal decision making Family support |
resources | By clinicians, wider care team, family support organizations | Assessment of family social structure to determine need for:; Community or such as Parent to Parent; Social work involvement for parental support; Home nursing referral The Diamond Blackfan Anemia Foundation lists resources for family support. |
DBA Syndrome: Targeted Therapies Type | Treatment | Dosage |
Corticosteroids | Prednisone | Starting dose: 2 mg/kg/day orally 1x daily in am for 4 weeks. If no response, taper over 2 weeks.; Slowly taper responders to minimal effective dose (0.3 mg/kg/day is target daily dose or preferably 0.6 mg/kg every other day to avoid adrenal suppression).1 |
Can improve RBC count in 60%-80% of persons Transplant | HSCT | See the following text. |
Source: GeneReviews — "DBA Syndrome"
Deferiprone is not recommended in the treatment of iron overload in persons with DBA syndrome except those with severe cardiac iron overload because its side effects include neutropenia . Individuals with DBA syndrome, especially those on corticosteroid treatment, should take reasonable precautions to avoid infections, as steroid-dependent individuals are more prone to complications resulting from immune system dysfunction.
Source: GeneReviews — "DBA Syndrome"
Search ClinicalTrials.gov in the US and EU Clinical Trials Register in Europe for access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions. Note: There may not be clinical trials for this disorder.
Source: GeneReviews — "DBA Syndrome"
View trials for Diamond-Blackfan anemia 2
Bone marrow aspirate/biopsy to evaluate morphology cellularity | If evidence of another cytopenia or failure of current treatment is noted
| Assess for growth deficiency. | Throughout childhood
Monitor blood pressure for risk of hypertension.
Assess for gastric ulcers frequency of infection.
| At each visit in those on steroids
Endocrine eval to assess for pathologic fractures, osteoporosis, weight gain, cushingoid appearance, diabetes | As recommended by endocrinologist
Ophthalmology eval for glaucoma cataract | Annually
| Options to assess liver iron:
T2*-weighted MRI for assessing iron load in liver heart at a center w/experience in this technique
Magnetic biosusceptometry (SQUID) to assess liver iron; noninvasive but not widely available rarely used
Liver biopsy specimen; accurately determines total body iron accumulation but is not practical choice for long-term follow up
Note: Routine measurement of serum ferritin is not reliable in detecting iron overload because serum ferritin does not always correlate w/total body iron accumulation.
Source: GeneReviews — "DBA Syndrome"
11 |
31% |
Research summaries | 3 | 8% |
Clinical study results | 3 | 8% |
Disease patterns and progression | 3 | 8% |
Testing and diagnosis research | 2 | 6% |
New treatment approaches | 2 | 6% |
Other research | 1 | 3% |
Wirk B (2026). [PMID: 41983154](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41983154/). *J Hematol*. [Clinical Trial Publication]
Tang Y (2026). [PMID: 41951665](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41951665/). *Nat Commun*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Quarello P (2026). [PMID: 41247002](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41247002/). *American journal of hematology*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Lecornec N (2026). [PMID: 41498485](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41498485/). *American journal of hematology*. [Diagnostic / Biomarker]
Dhangar S (2026). [PMID: 41460469](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41460469/). *Indian journal of pediatrics*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Torchio F (2026). [PMID: 42108919](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42108919/). *Am J Hematol*. [Epidemiology / Natural History]
Lozano-Gil JM (2026). [PMID: 41514124](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41514124/). *EMBO molecular medicine*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Ling T (2026). [PMID: 41587073](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41587073/). *Blood*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Kanda J (2026). [PMID: 41592701](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41592701/). *Transplantation and cellular therapy*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Wen T (2025). [PMID: 40029997](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40029997/). *Blood advances*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]