Saima Siddiqui
National institute of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Pakistan
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Blood Disord Transfus
Fanconi anemia (FA) is the most common inherited bone marrow failure disorder. It is characterized by bone marrow failure, congenital abnormalities and increased propensity to develop malignancies. FA is a chromosomal instability disorder reason being error in DNA repair mechanism. As per international Fanconi anemia data base more than 21 genes or complementation groups have been identified. Clinical presentation of Fanconi anemia is very heterogeneous. In Pakistan incidence and presentation of Fanconi anemia has never been documented. Total of 60 diagnosed patients of Fanconi anemia (on chromosomal breakage analysis MMc test) were included in the study after taking written and verbal informed consent, of which 33% were female. Majority of 96% patients presented with pancytopenia (reason most likely that our center is a hematology center) 26% patients had skeletal abnormalities while 23% had renal structural abnormalities. Cafe au lait, microphthalmia and facial abnormalities were present in 41%, 57% and 61% patients respectively. 98% were below 5th centile for both height and weight. Family history was present in 41% patients. The phenotypic presentation of Fanconi anemia is highly variable. Any patient presenting with cytopenia, skeletal defects, abnormal skin pigmentation or atypical facies should be worked up for Fanconi anemia.
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