Three cases of typical aplastic anaemia associated with a Philadelphia chromosome

We report three cases of typical aplastic anaemia (AA) associated with a Ph iladelphia chromosome. This translocation was detected at the time of diagn osis of AA (one patient) and when overt leukaemia was diagnosed (two patien ts: one chronic myeloid leukaemia and one acute lymphoblastic leukaemia) af ter AA therapy and recovery of blood counts. We discuss the literature argu ments about considering some cases of AA as preleukaemic disorders and sugg est that our cases illustrate the association of AA with a clonal malignant disorder. We conclude that cytogenetic analysis is necessary at diagnosis of AA or after recovery of blood counts.