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Abnormal chromatin clumping in leucocytes: A clue to a new subtype of myelodysplastic syndrome
Author(s) -
Jaén Ana,
Vallespi Teresa,
Torrabadella Marta,
Irriguible Dolores,
Woessne Soledad,
Abella Eugenia,
Milla Fuensanta,
Lafuente Roser
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1990.tb00459.x
Subject(s) - chromatin , myelodysplastic syndromes , karyotype , pathology , pneumonia , chromosome , bone marrow , biology , hyperplasia , medicine , immunology , genetics , dna , gene
We report 6 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, all of whom showed a bizarre nuclear anomaly within the neutrophils that was characterized by extensive clumping of chromatin into large blocks separated by clear zones, generally associated with a lack of segmentation. Anaemia, thrombocytopenia, variable leucocyte counts with leucoerythroblastic picture, marrow hypercellularity with granulocytic hyperplasia and moderate dysplastic changes in erythroblastic and megakaryocytic lines were present at diagnosis. 2 patients had normal karyotypes and a 3 showed a deletion of chromosome 14. 5 out of 6 patients had pneumonia at diagnosis. The median survival was short (5 months) and haemorrhagic complications were the cause of death in 4 patients. The clinical features and the evolution of these and other reported cases suggest that the presence of abnormal chromatin clumping in leucocytes might be a clue to a new subtype of myelodysplastic syndrome.