Erythropoietin-induced acute erythroid leukemia-like picture: a potential pitfall.
A 31-year-old male patient presented with fever and pancytopenia. He was diagnosed as a case of chronic anemia since early childhood. The etiology of the anemia was not known. The patient was transfusion dependent, and he had been maintained on erythropoietin for three years prior to admission. A bone marrow examination revealed prominent proliferation of immature and dysplastic erythroid precursors. Acute erythroid leukemia of the pure erythroid subtype was suspected. However, because of the history of erythropoietin therapy a definite diagnosis was not made. On follow-up one month later, the marrow changes had reversed to normal.
Department of Pathology, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan.
Laila
L
Moharram
Department of Pathology, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan.
Nazmi
N
Kamal
Hematologist/Medical Oncologist, private practice, Amman, Jordan.
Sana
S
Al Sukhun
Department of Pathology, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan. Electronic address: msughayer@khcc.jo.
Maher A
MA
Sughayer
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D004900:Erythroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D004915:Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000473:pathology
D004921:Erythropoietin
Acute erythroid leukemia; Erythropoietin; World Health Organization classification