Red cell inclusion bodies in a case of preleukaemia

A 26-year-old female patient is reported in whom red cell inclusion bodies (Hb-H) and thrombocytopenia appeared more than 5 years before the emergence of atypical chr. myeloid leukaemia. Attention is drawn to the fact that the recently uncovered mechanism of acquisition of Hb-H (absence of transcription of specific genes) has previously been implicated in other biochemical changes typical of leukaemia.