title: Down syndrome with myelodysplasia of megakaryoblastic lineage.
abstract: The association between Down syndrome and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) has been well documented. AML in Down syndrome is usually a specific type of megakaryoblastic leukemia (M7, AMKL). A myelodysplastic syndrome generally precedes this malignancy. Down syndrome patients with AMKL have a much better prognosis than other children with AML. A case study of a 22-month-old female with Down syndrome and myelodysplastic syndrome of a megakaryoblastic lineage is presented here. Upon admission to a pediatric hematology/oncology clinic, flow cytometry results reported a distinct population of phenotypically abnormal myeloblasts expressing myeloid antigens and the immature cell markers. The patient was placed on a national research group study and began chemotherapy treatment. To date she has received two courses of cytarabine (ara-c) and daunorubicin therapy, which were tolerated well, and is awaiting her third course. Her blood counts stabilize for a while after treatments and her prognosis is good.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Health Related Professions, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
authors.forename: Ric
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Libby
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spence
mesh_terms: D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011379:Prognosis