Acquired hemoglobin H disease in a patient with aplastic anemia evolving into acute myeloid leukemia

• Published in: São Paulo medical journal Vol. 122; no. 6; pp. 273 - 275
• Main Authors: Figueiredo, Maria Stella, Vicari, Perla, Kimura, Eliza Yuriko Sugano, Antunes, Sandra Vallin, Yamamoto, Mihoko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Associação Paulista de Medicina - APM 04-11-2004; Associação Paulista de Medicina
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adult; Anemia, Aplastic - blood; Anemia, Aplastic - complications; Aplastic anemia; Disease; Fatal Outcome; Hemoglobin H; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid - blood; Leukemia, Myeloid - etiology; Male; MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL; Myelodysplastic syndromes; Myelodysplastic Syndromes - complications; Myeloid leukemia; Time Factors; Anemia aplástica; Disease; Hemoglobina H; Myeloid leukemia; Aplastic anemia; Leucemia mielóide; Hemoglobin H; Doença; Síndromes mielodisplásicas; Myelodysplastic syndromes
• ISSN: 1516-3180; 1806-9460; 1516-3180
• DOI: 10.1590/s1516-31802004000600009

The prognosis of severe aplastic anemia has improved since the introduction of bone marrow transplantation and treatment with antithymocyte globulin. In contrast to the success of these protocols, studies with long term follow-up have shown the occurrence of clonal diseases such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, myelodysplastic syndrome and acute leukemia in aplastic anemia.
We report the first case of a Brazilian patient with aplastic anemia who developed myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia showing acquired hemoglobin H and increased fetal hemoglobin.