Co-Incidence or Co-Existence? Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in HbE-alpha Thalassaemia: A Case Report with Review of Literature

Abstract

Haemoglobin E (HbE) is a Haemoglobin variant that commonly occurs in many places in Asia. As β thalassaemia and α thalassaemia also occur in the same regions, the co-inheritance of these conditions leads to various phenotypic forms. HbE α thalassaemia is less common and of a milder phenotype than HbE β thalassaemia. Though malignancies are one of the complications in thalassaemia, occurrence of leukaemia is a rare event. Here we present a case of a two-year-old male child co-presenting with pre B acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with MLL rearrangement and HbE alpha thalassaemia. The child is on remission 12 months post-therapy with standard ALL high risk protocol with no minimal residual disease (MRD). Haematological and oncological conditions coexisting at presentation is a challenge to therapy. This case is described for its rarity. Informed consent has been obtained from the parents.

Keywords

• haemoglobin variants
• paediatric leukaemia
• thalassaemic syndrome