Cortese D, Martinez C, Dindoyal A, Alamome I, Dragan R, Chapiro J, Blaison G, Hinschberger O. [Acquired alpha-thalassemia in an 86-year-old patient with myelodysplastic syndrome].
Rev Med Interne 2023;
44:89-91. [PMID:
36646614 DOI:
10.1016/j.revmed.2022.12.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Alpha thalassemia-myelodysplastic syndrome (ATMDS) is one of the possible complications related to the genetic instability typical of clonal hemopoietic disorders such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Hemoglobin H acquisition, which is hemoglobin without alpha chains and with 4 beta chains is the hallmark of this disease.
OBSERVATION
An 86-year-old male with chronic, microcytic anemia was referred due to a fall in his hemoglobin level. The blood smear was remarkable for intense anisocytoses and poikilocytosis. Bone marrow analysis was followed by a diagnosis of MDS with a good prognostic score. Peripheral blood coloration with brilliant cresyl blue showed "golf ball-like" erythrocytes. Hemoglobin electrophoresis is notable for the presence of H hemoglobin. The new generation sequencing confirmed the diagnosis of ATMDS showing a non-sense mutation in the gene ATRX.
CONCLUSION
The diagnosis of ATMDS should be considered in the presence of the association of MDS, microcytic anemia and marked blood smear abnormalities such as anisocytosis and poikilocytosis. A little less than 10% of all MDS are complicated by ATMDS.
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