[Cytogenetic and hematologic follow-up studies in idiopathic refractory sideroblastic anemia (IRSA) (author's transl)].

In ten patients with IRSA, chromosome analysis and bone marrow cytology were performed once or several times during 24 months. Bone marrow chromosomes from eight patients showed a normal karyotype. Two patients were found to have stable clonal chromosome aberrations (45, X,-Y[male] and 46, XX,+mar). In a median duration of 6.8 years of IRSA no patient has yet developed acute leukemia. In another ten deceased patients with IRSA no evidence of leukemia, but a carcinoma of colon and prostate were observed in a latency of 7.7 years. Three patients with symptomatic SA developed in 1-15 months an acute leukemia. Two of them showed severe instable clonal chromosome abnormalities. Distinct bone marrow abnormalities (increase of blasts, normal cellularity, reversed M:E ratio, PAS-pos. erythroblasts), thrombocytopenia, and major clonal chromosome aberrations may help to differentiate IRSA from preleukemic states with symptomatic SA.