Abstract
Three patients of preleukemia were cytologically and cytogenetically studied. Case 1 was 38-year-old man with atypical myeloproliferative disorder. Most of his marrow cells contained 45 chromosomes with missing of Y chromosome. Thirteen months later he terminated in typical acute myelocytic leukemia. Case 2 was 50-year-old man with acquired sideroblastic anemia. Most of his marrow cells contained 47 chromosomes with one missing from group B and two different marker chromosomes belonging to E group. Ten months later he died of hepatic coma, when his blood pictures suggested acute myelocytic leukemia or erythroleukemia. Case 3 was 43-year-old man with pulmonary tuberculosis and suspected myelofibrosis. 100% of his marrow cells contained 47 chromosomes with an extra C group chromosome. Seven months later he died of miliary tuberculosis. Autopsy revealed myelocytic leukemia (chronic?) in addition to milliary tuberculosis.
Each case at preleukemic stage showed some hematological abnormalities in three blood cell lines (erythroid, granulocytic, thrombocytic) frequently observed in erythroleukemia or acute myelocytic leukemia. Evidence is presented that chromosome abnormalities may be common in both the erythrocytic and granulocytic precursors, and, for case 2, even also in megakaryocytes.
From these findings mechanism of leukemic transformation in our cases was discussed.
