Chronic Erythroleukemia With Chromosome Mosaicism

Abstract

LIKE OTHER myeloproliferative disorders, erythroleukemia (DiGuglielmo's disease) may occur in acute or chronic form. The acute disease is more common, and terminates fatally within months. The chronic form may persist for years, and usually produces few symptoms, other than those associated with anemia. Most chronic cases feature involvement of the myeloid series as well as the characteristically abnormal erythroblastic proliferation in the marrow. Myeloblastic involvement becomes more likely the longer the disease persists, hence the name "erythroleukemia." Because of variation from case to case, extreme rarity of the condition, and unknown etiology, classification has been difficult and confusing. Most authors agree that the essential feature of the disease, as described by DiGuglielmo in 1917,¹ is a generalized malignant proliferation of the erythropoietic cells of the bone marrow. Though several reports of chronic erythroleukemia in adults are now available, we are presenting the first such instance in a young child,