TRANSIENT 7Q- IN ASSOCIATION WITH MEGALOBLASTIC-ANEMIA DUE TO DIETARY-FOLATE AND VITAMIN-B-12 DEFICIENCY

Purpose: We describe a case of acquired megaloblastic anemia in a 71/2 -year-old white boy whose bone marrow showed unusual morphology and a nonrandom del(7q). Methods and Results: This patient was found to have megaloblastic anemia due to acquired folic acid and vitamin B-12 defi ciencies. Bone marrow examination exhibited unusual morphology, includ ing intranuclear inclusions. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a nonrandom del(7q), a clonal abnormality usually associated with the myelodyspla stic syndrome (MDS) or secondary acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Spe cific treatment with both folic acid and vitamin B-12 corrected the cl inical as well as the marrow morphologic and cytogenetic abnormalities . Conclusions: Megaloblastic anemia causes abnormalities in DNA synthe sis and repair that may result in unusual marrow findings, both morpho logic and cytogenetic. Such findings must be interpreted with caution in view of total reversibility with specific vitamin therapy.