Diamond-Blackfan anemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects the ability of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. Symptoms may include a shortage of red blood cells (anemia), physical abnormalities such as small head size (microcephaly) characteristic facial features, cleft palate, cleft lip, short and webbed neck, small shoulder blades, and defects of the hands (mostly of the thumbs), as well as defects of the genitalia, urinary tract, eyes and heart. In some cases there is also short stature.

Diamond-Blackfan anemia is caused by mutations in several genes, some of which have been identified and some of which have not. Identified genes include but are not limited to: RPS19, RPL5, RPS10,RPL11, RPL35A, RPS7, RPS17, RPS24, RPS26 and GATA1 genes. Different subtypes exist and are divided based on the specific gene mutated; however, they have similar features. Patients with mutations in the RPL5 gene have more serious symptoms and about 45% have cleft palate and are smaller than average size. Patients with mutations in the RPL11 gene have thumb anomalies more frequently than people with the other types. Mutations in the GATA1 gene are associated with severe anemia. Most cases are isolated, but about 45% of people with Diamond-Blackfan anemia inherit this condition from a parent. Inheritance is typically autosomal dominant , but can rarely be X-linked.

Treatment may involve corticosteroids, blood transfusions, a bone marrow transplant or stem cell transplantation. The severity of the disease is very varied. People with Diamond-Blackfan anemia may have an increased risk of having diseases related to a bone marrow defect, such as myelodysplastic syndrome, and certain cancers. Adults with the disease may have hormonal problems in later life, specially adrenal insufficiency, hypogonadism and hypothyroidism.

Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) can be caused by mutations in the RPS19 gene (25% of the cases) or in the following genes: RPL5, RPL11, RPL35A, RPS7, RPS10, RPS17, RPS24, or RPS26 genes (25%-35% of the cases). In very rare cases, the disease is caused by a mutation in the GATA1 gene. In the remaining 40%-50% of the cases the cause is unknown.

The RPS19, RPL5, RPL11, RPL35A, RPS7, RPS10, RPS17, RPS24, and RPS26 genes provide instructions for making several of the different ribosomal proteins. Ribosomes are components of cellular structure that process the cell's genetic instructions to create proteins.Each ribosome is made up of two parts (subunits) called the large and small subunits. The RPL5, RPL11, and RPL35A genes provide instructions for making ribosomal proteins found in the large subunit. The ribosomal proteins produced from the RPS7, RPS10, RPS17, RPS19, RPS24, and RPS26 genes are among those found in the small subunit. Some ribosomal proteins are involved in the assembly or stability of ribosomes and others help building new proteins or have other functions.A shortage of functioning ribosomal proteins may increase the self-destruction of blood-forming cells in the bone marrow, resulting in anemia.

According to the mutated gene people may have some differences in their symptoms:

• People who have mutation in the RPL5 gene appear to have more severe problems than people with mutations in the RPL11 and RPS19 genes.
• People with mutations in the RPL5 gene have more chances of having cleft lip and/or cleft palate defects.
• People with mutations in the RPL11 gene have more thumb abnormalities
• People with mutations in the GATA1 gene may have a more severe anemia.

In about 30% of people diagnosed with Diamond-Blackfan anemia no mutation is found in any of the known DBA-linked genes.

• Corticosteroids: Corticosteroid treatment is recommended in children over 1 year of age; this treatment can initially improve the red blood count in approximately 80% of people with Diamond-Blackfan anemia. Prednisone initial dose is 2 mg / kg / day given orally once a day, at morning time. After a month, if there is no improvement after a month the corticosteroids are tapered-of and suspended
• Blood transfusions, which are given along with the corticosteroids or in people who do not get better with corticosteroids
• Bone marrow/stem cell transplantation: It is the only curative treatment for the anemia; however, patients should continue to be followed because they are at increased risk for leukemia and cancer. Results are better for children younger than ten years of age if transplanted using an Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-matched sib