Pure Erythroid Leukemia in a Sickle Cell Patient Treated with Hydroxyurea
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 10, 2025
Characterization of Sickling During Controlled Automated Deoxygenation with Oxygen Gradient Ektacytometry
Published on: November 5, 2019
Dhiraj Kumar Yadav1, Thushara Paul1, Mohamed Alhamar2
1Department of Hematology and Oncology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
We present a very rare case of pure erythroid leukemia arising in a young patient with sickle cell disease being treated with hydroxyurea for almost 5 years. Diagnosing and managing this rare condition has been a challenge and the majority of patients with pure erythroid leukemia have a very poor prognosis with survival in months despite treatment. This form of leukemia could be therapy related and in our case, hydroxyurea may have been responsible for the development of this aggressive condition.
We present a very rare case of pure erythroid leukemia arising in a young patient with sickle cell disease being treated with hydroxyurea for almost 5 years. Diagnosing and managing this rare condition has been a challenge and the majority of patients with pure erythroid leukemia have a very poor prognosis with survival in months despite treatment. This form of leukemia could be therapy related and in our case, hydroxyurea may have been responsible for the development of this aggressive condition.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Disorders of Erythrocytes
Erythrocyte disorders can be broadly categorized into two main types: anemic and polycythemic conditions.
A low oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood due to the loss, lower production, or destruction of erythrocytes is termed anemia. Hemorrhagic anemia, for example, occurs when bleeding from an external wound or internal ulcer reduces erythrocyte counts.
On the other...
01:14Erythropoiesis
01:22Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy...