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INTRODUCTION

  • Sideroblastic anemias may be acquired or hereditary and are classified in Table 11–1.

  • Normal red cell precursors have cytoplasmic organelles termed siderosomes that contain aggregated iron-rich ferritin. They can be seen in erythroblasts by transmission electron microscopy and represent normal structures providing iron for hemoglobin synthesis. These aggregates may be below the resolution of the light microscope. Thus, in Prussian blue–stained marrow specimens, about 20% to 40% of red cell precursors have one to three very small, pinhead-sized blue granules in the cytoplasm under oil immersion optics, depending on the quality of the preparation.

  • Pathologic sideroblasts are of two types. The classical type is a ring sideroblast with large, Prussian blue–stained granules in a circumferential position around the nucleus of the erythroblast. This position reflects their intramitochondrial location: mitochondria in erythroblasts being positioned closely surrounding the nucleus. The other type of pathologic sideroblast has large and multiple cytoplasmic granules (see Figure 11–1).

  • Sideroblastic anemias are characterized by:

    — A population of hypochromic and normochromic erythrocytes in the blood film (dimorphic picture).

    — Increased red cell precursors in the marrow in the face of anemia and a low reticulocyte count.

    — Anemia that is the result of apoptosis of late erythroid precursors (ie, ineffective erythropoiesis), with increased plasma iron turnover and normal to decreased red cell survival.

    — Drugs that reduce the formation of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate from pyridoxine decrease heme synthesis and can cause sideroblastic anemia.

TABLE 11–1CLASSIFICATION OF SIDEROBLASTIC ANEMIAS
FIGURE 11–1

Marrow films. A. Normal marrow stained with Prussian blue. Note several erythroblasts without apparent siderotic (blue-stained) granules. The arrow indicates erythroblast with several very small cytoplasmic blue-stained granules. It is very difficult to see siderosomes in most erythroblasts in normal marrow because they are often below the resolution of the light microscope. B. Sideroblastic anemia. Note the florid increase in Prussian blue staining granules in the erythroblasts, most with circumnuclear locations. These are classic examples of ring sideroblast that are by definition pathologic changes in the red cell precursors. In some cases, cytoplasmic iron granules are also increased in size and number, also a pathologic change. (Reproduced with permission from Lichtman MA, Shafer MS, Felgar RE, et al: Lichtman’s Atlas of Hematology 2016. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2017. www.accessmedicine.com.)

ACQUIRED SIDEROBLASTIC ANEMIA

Primary

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