Hematogone hyperplasia in copper deficiency.

Copper deficiency is likely an underrecognized cause of anemia and neutropenia and may masquerade as a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). We report 2 cases of copper deficiency in which the diagnosis was suggested based on the characteristic morphologic findings, such as cytoplasmic vacuolization of erythroid and myeloid precursors and iron-containing plasma cells. It is interesting that both patients had hematogone hyperplasia. This phenomenon, largely absent in MDS, may aid in distinguishing nonclonal causes of cytopenias, such as copper deficiency, from MDS. It is of crucial importance to identify treatable causes of cytopenias when MDS is suspected. We recommend copper level assessment in patients suspected of having low-grade MDS, especially patients with neuropathy and normal results of cytogenetic studies.