Association of 5q- and refractory anemia

The association of refractory anemia with partial deletion of the long arm of one No. 5 chromosome (5q-) has been reported in six patients within the last two years. We wish to report an additional patient with refractory anemia and an acquired chromosomal deletion, del(5)(q15), in a direct bone-moarrow preparation. The specificity of this deletion for refractory anemia is discussed. It remains to be seen whether patients with refractory anemia and 5q- tend to develop acute leukemia, as has been recently suggested.