Context: Bone marrow fibrosis is observed in different clonal hematological disorders including myeloproliferative diseases, acute leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes. In myelodysplastic syndrome a new clinical-pathological entity with significant increase in reticulin fibers has been suggested, and the term hyperfibrotic myelodysplasia was used to define it. Bone marrow biopsy shows increased reticulin fibers, megakaryocytic hyperplasia and dysplasia. Differential diagnosis with primary myelofibrosis may be difficult and hybrid cases may occur. Patients with hyperfibrotic myelodysplastic syndrome responding to treatment with steroids have been reported. In the majority of cases there was only hematological remission, although resolution of fibrosis occurred in one patient. Design: Case report. Case report: A 62-year old male presented in June 95 with a 6-month history of lethargy and dispnea. On examination he was pale without hepato-splenomegaly. Hemoglobin concentration was 3g/dL with marked anisocytosis without teardrop cells. Bone marrow aspirates resulted in dry tap. Bone marrow biopsy showed hypercellularity with increased fibrosis (grade IV) obliterating the normal marrow architecture. Megakaryocytes were increased in number, with abnormal morphology. Monoclonal antibodies against factor VIII and CD31 revealed that both were expressed in megakaryocytes. Prednisone (1mg/Kg) was introduced in June 1996, after what his symptoms lessened and hemoglobin increased. Bone marrow fibrosis decreased (grade IV to grade II). He has become transfusion independent till Jan/1999, when hemoglobin fell to 6g/dL and prednisone was reintroduced with a prompt rise in hemoglobin concentration.
Myelodysplastic syndromes; Hyperfibrotic; Steroid therapy
