Erythroleukemia Manifesting δβ-Thalassemia

Abstract

A 27 year old male with aplastic anemia developed a high fetal hemoglobin, a low hemoglobin A₂, a decreased β/α synthetic ratio, and an increased G γ/A γ synthetic ratio. This acquired hemoglobinopathy resembling δβ-thalassemia was recognized at the onset of acute erythroleukemia. Certain features of this abnormal globin synthetic pattern resemble those of the normal fetus and thus appear to provide another example of gene expression by malignant cells resembling that of an earlier stage of the organism's development.