REFRACTORY CYTOPENIA WITH T(1-7), -LEYDEN CRYSTALS - A FLUORESCENCE IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION STUDY(8 ABNORMALITY AND DYSPLASTIC EOSINOPHILS SHOWING INTRANUCLEAR CHARCOT)

A case of refractory cytopenia and marrow eosinophilia showing t(1;7) translocation and concomitant trisomy 8 is reported. The eosinophils w ere dysplastic, and showed the unique feature of intranuclear Charcot- Leyden crystal formation, giving rise to a 'lip-like' appearance, We s peculate that this unusual cytologic feature resulted from abnormal pr ecipitation of Charcot-Leyden crystal protein in the eosinophils. By f luorescence in situ hybridization using a chromosome 8 specific alpha- satellite probe, the abnormal eosinophils were shown to have derived f rom the abnormal clone. We postulate that the dysplastic clone might h ave retained a differentiation potential and be responsive to normal h aemopoietic stimuli.