EOSINOPHILIC LEUKEMIA WITH A T(25) (P23Q35) TRANSLOCATION

Although the diagnosis of rare eosinophilic leukaemia is possible base d on cytogenetic abnormalities, the chromosomal aberrations reported a re diverse. We found a t(2;5) (23;q35) translocation on bone marrow ce lls of a patient with chronic eosinophilia who suffered from multiple pustular folliculitis but lacked the clinical symptoms commonly observ ed in hypereosinophilic syndrome. No morphological abnormalities in an eosinophilic series were apparent and other haemopoietic cells were w ell preserved. A therapeutic trial with interferon-alpha failed after a 2-month period, and the patient is currently undergoing a combinatio n therapy with interferon and intermittent administrations of hydroxyu rea.