Aplastic anaemia and the hypocellular myelodysplastic syndrome: histomorphological, diagnostic, and prognostic features. Issue 11 (November 1985)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fohlmeister, I; Fischer, R; Mödder, B; Rister, M; Schaefer, H E
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical pathology. Volume 38:Issue 11(1985)
• Page Start: 1218
• Page End: 1224
• Publication Date: 1985-11
• Subjects: Pathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 616.0705
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.38.11.1218
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9746

Abstract

Abstract : In a retrospective study of 111 patients with aplastic anaemia iliac crest biopsies were evaluated for the presence of morphological features statistically related to the evolution of the disease. Prognostic variables for a transition to acute non-lymphatic leukaemia were: cellular atypias of the three haemopoietic lineages, as observed in the myelodysplastic syndrome, and especially "micromegakaryocytes"; high numbers or irregular distribution of megakaryocytes, or both; and (slight) marrow fibrosis. Clinical variables did not influence these prognostic correlations. Prognosis in relation to death from bone marrow failure without leukaemia might well have been influenced by a strong plasma cell reaction, but this correlation was weakened by clinical factors. On the basis of this study aplastic anaemia can thus be subdivided morphologically into two disease entities--namely, hypocellular myelodysplastic syndrome with a 23-82% risk of acute non-lymphatic leukaemia developing within three years, depending on how many variables associated with acute non-lymphatic leukaemia are present, and non-dysplastic myelohypoplasia.