Acute Erythroid Leukemia: A Rare Case Report

Abstract

AML with myelodysplasia related changes is an uncommon type of acute myeloid leukemia. It comprises less than 5% of acute leukemias. According to the recent World Health Organization (WHO-2016) classification, AML cases with ≥ 50% or more erythroid cells and ≥ 20% total myeloblasts should be diagnosed as AML with myelodysplasia-related changes. Morphologic cellular features help to establish the diagnosis. We present a rare case of AML with myelodysplasia related changes in a 35-year-old female who presented with low-grade fever, mild epistaxis, and shortness of breath and diffuse sternal tenderness. The peripheral smear showed features of pancytopenia with 6% blasts along with evidence of hemolysis. Bone marrow examination revealed erythroid hyperplasia with 65% erythroblasts and 24% myeloblasts. Flow cytometry was used for the confirmation of the diagnosis. The patient was administered chemotherapy with Azacitidine 75 mg/m2/day × 7 days in IV infusion along with 2 units of red cell concentrate prophylactically to prevent anemia. Molecular studies are needed to understand better the pathogenesis of AML with myelodysplasiarelated changes and to develop newer diagnostic and prognostic markers.