Objective: To analyze the characteristics of acquired pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) secondary to T cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia (T-LGLL).
Methods: Fourteen patients with T-LGLL associated with PRCA between 2000 and 2006 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.
Results: The median age at diagnosis was 61 years with equal gender distribution. The PRCA had indolent process, mainly presenting with anemia. Of the 14 patients, 9 had mild to moderate splenomegaly, one hepatomegaly and one lymphadenopathy. The median Hb level was 61.5 g/L and the median WBC count 4.3 x 10(9)/L. The median percentage and count of LGL in peripheral blood were 0.36 and 1.9 x 10(9)/L respectively. The median percentage of LGL in BM was 0.165 (0.085 - 0.410). Some patients had serologic abnormalities. All the 12 cases with available bone marrow cell cytogenetics showed normal karyotypes. With cyclosporine A or glucocorticoid immunosuppressive therapy, the overall response was 91%.
Conclusion: T-LGLL was one of the major causes of acquired PRCA. This type of PRCA has the similar clinical and laboratory feature to that of other type of PRCA and has a good response to immunosuppressive therapy.