β-Thalassemia Minor Diagnosed in a Patient with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia during Hydroxyurea Therapy

Abstract

A 55-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of leukocytosis and microcytic anemia with hypochromia, target cells, and increased levels of hemoglobin A₂ and hemoglobin F. The results of a gene analysis yielded a diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia and β-thalassemia minor. A gradual increase in hemoglobin was observed during hydroxyurea therapy, which was performed over a 12-week period. This increment appeared to be due to suppressed production of myeloid cells. It has been reported that hydroxyurea increases total hemoglobin due to increased hemoglobin F synthesis in patients with β-thalassemia. However, hydroxyurea had no clear influence on hemoglobin concentration in this case.