Refractory anaemia with ring sideroblasts and marked thrombocytosis (RARS-T) is a provisional entity in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. It displays features characteristic of both myelodysplastic syndrome and myeloproliferative neoplasia plus ring sideroblasts ≥15% and marked thrombocytosis. Most patients with RARS-T show a normal karyotype. We report a 76-year-old woman diagnosed with RARS-T (76% of ring sideroblasts) with JAK2 (V617F) mutation and a load of 30–40%. Classical and molecular cytogenetic (FISH) studies of a bone marrow sample revealed the presence of isodicentric X chromosome [(idic(X)(q13)]. Moreover, HUMARA assay showed the idic(X)(q13) as the active X chromosome. This finding was correlated with the cytochemical finding of ring sideroblasts. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an active isodicentric X in a woman with RARS-T. 1. Introduction Refractory anaemia with ring sideroblasts and marked thrombocytosis (RARS-T) is a rare entity which displays features characteristic of both myelodysplastic syndrome and myeloproliferative neoplasia plus ring sideroblasts ≥15% and marked thrombocytosis. Most patients with RARS-T show a normal karyotype in bone marrow sample [1]. Seven years after its incorporation into the 2001 World Health Organization (WHO) classification [2], RARS-T still remains a provisional entity under the category of myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm, unclassifiable [3]. An isodicentric X chromosome with breakpoints in Xq13 (idic(X)(q13)) is a rare cytogenetic abnormality with an extra dose of Xpter-q13 and loss of the Xq13-qter region. Currently, controversy exists regarding whether idic(X)(q13) is active or inactive and whether or not there is any correlation with the cytochemical finding of ring sideroblasts [4]. 2. Case Report We report a 76-year-old female presenting with RARS-T and idic(X)(q13) in bone marrow cells. She presented with anaemia (mean corpuscular volume, 103?fl; haemoglobin, 9.2?g/dL), leukocytes of , and a thrombocytosis of . The patient was diagnosed with RARS-T (76% of ring sideroblasts) with JAK2 (V617F) mutation and a load of 30%–40%. A cytogenetic analysis of the bone marrow revealed two clones, one with an isodicentric X and another with a normal chromosomal complement: 46,X,idic(X)(q13)[4]/46,XX[16] (Figure 1(a)). HUMARA assay showed the idic(X)(q13) as the active X chromosome. In situ fluorescent hybridisation with a DXZ1 centromere probe (Vysis Downers Grove, IL, USA) (Figure 1(b)) and a whole chromosome painting (WCP) X chromosome probe (Vysis
References
[1]
J. M. Raya, L. Arenillas, A. Domingo et al., “Refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts associated with thrombocytosis: comparative analysis of marked with non-marked thrombocytosis, and relationship with JAK2 V617F mutational status,” International Journal of Hematology, vol. 88, no. 4, pp. 387–395, 2008.
[2]
B. J. Bain, J. W. Vardiman, M. Imbert, and R. Pierre, “Myelodisplastic/myeloproliferative disease, unclassifiable,” in WHO Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues, E. S. Jaffe, N. L. Harris, H. Stein, and J. W. Vardiman, Eds., pp. 58–59, 2001.
[3]
J. W. Vardiman, J. M. Bennett, B. J. Bain, I. Baumann, J. Thiele, and A. Orazi, “Myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm, unclassifiable,” in WHO Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues, S. H. Swerdlow, E. Campo, N. L. Harris et al., Eds., pp. 85–86, Lyon, France, 2008.
[4]
K. Paulsson, C. Haferlach, C. Fonatsch et al., “The idic(X)(q13) in myeloid malignancies: breakpoint clustering in segmental duplications and association with TET2 mutations,” Human Molecular Genetics, vol. 19, no. 8, Article ID ddq024, pp. 1507–1514, 2010.
[5]
R. C. Allen, H. Y. Zoghbi, A. B. Moseley, H. M. Rosenblatt, and J. W. Belmont, “Methylation of HpaII and HhaI sites near the polymorphic CAG repeat in the human androgen-receptor gene correlates with X chromosome inactivation,” American Journal of Human Genetics, vol. 51, no. 6, pp. 1229–1239, 1992.
[6]
G. W. Dewald, M. Brecher, L. B. Travis, and P. J. Stupca, “Twenty-six patients with hematologic disorders and X chromosome abnormalities. Frequent idic(X)(q13) chromosomes and Xq13 anomalies associated with pathologic ringed sideroblasts,” Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics, vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 173–185, 1989.
[7]
J. Dierlamm, L. Michaux, A. Criel et al., “Isodicentric (X)(q13) in haematological malignancies: presentation of five new cases, application of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and review of the literature,” British Journal of Haematology, vol. 91, no. 4, pp. 885–891, 1995.
[8]
K. Sato, Y. Torimoto, T. Hosoki et al., “Loss of ABCB7 gene: pathogenesis of mitochondrial iron accumulation in erythroblasts in refractory anemia with ringed sideroblast with isodicentric (X)(q13),” International Journal of Hematology, vol. 93, no. 3, pp. 311–318, 2011.
[9]
P. Temperani, P. Zucchini, G. Emilia, S. Sacchi, L. Selleri, and U. Torelli, “Isodicentric X chromosome in myeloproliferative disorders,” Acta Haematologica, vol. 81, no. 3, pp. 152–154, 1989.
[10]
K. A. Rack, J. Chelly, R. J. Gibbons et al., “Absence of the XIST gene from late-replicating isodicentric X chromosomes in leukaemia,” Human Molecular Genetics, vol. 3, no. 7, pp. 1053–1059, 1994.