MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME AND TUBERCULOSIS

We report here the case of a patient with myelodysplasia and concomita nt tuberculosis. Refractory anemia with blasts excess diagnosis was ba sed upon morphological and cytogenetical criterias (del 20q), and tube rculosis was diagnosed on a cervical lymph node biopsy. Hematological data remained stable without any specific treatment for several months , cell counts even normalized under antituberculosis tritherapy. Clini cal and hematological worsening appeared 3 years later, 1 year after d iscontinuation of antituberculosis therapy. It was characterized by pr ogressive bone marrow failure and transformation in acute myeloid leuk aemia. Concomitantly tuberculosis relapsed. The association of antitub erculosis therapy and polychemotherapy (daunorubicine and aracytine) d id not allow to obtain a hematological remission. The relationship bet ween tuberculosis and myelodysplasia is discussed.