BONE-MARROW MORPHOLOGY IN PATIENTS WITH NEUTROPENIA DUE TO CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO ORGANIC-SOLVENTS (BENZENE) - EARLY LESIONS

The authors present the histological and cytological features of bone marrow (BM) in 152 employees from the steel plant of Cubatao (S. Paulo -Brazil) who presented with neutropenia, due to chronic exposure to be nzene and its homologues. All patients were male. Mean age was 35 year s. At the time of this study, all patients were removed from risk area s because of the hematological abnormality. BM morphology was characte rized by a hypocellular hemopoiesis (82%). Decrease of the granulocyti c precursors (86%) was the most outstanding feature. Erythroid and meg akaryocytic series were diminished in 40% and 57% of the cases, respec tively. Eosinophilia in BM was observed in 71% of the cases. Cell atyp ias and stromal changes (necrosis, increase in reticulin fibres) were frequent.