Human preleukaemia cell culture studies in sideroblastic anaemia

Cell structure abnormalties are found in acute leukaemia and preleukaemic states. Studies on bone marrow cells and peripheral leucocytes of 4 patients with idiopathic acquired sideroblastic anaemia showed patterns in cell culture similar to those reported in acute leukaemia: 2 of these patients later developed leukaemia. Other patients with idiopathic, secondary or congenital sideroblastosis showed no such cell culture abnormalities, and none developed leukaemia. Studies such as this suggest that cell culture methods detect altered cellular function preceding overt leukaemia and that these abnormal findings may be helpful in the evaluation of patient groups with an increased incidence of leukaemia.