Constitutional Pathology of Erythropoiesis

Abstract

SummaryThe concept and definition of constitutional pathology. Genetic erythropathies such as constitutional spherocytosis, leptocytosis, ovalocytosis and drepanocytosis and their relation to hemolytic clinical syndromes are discussed. Sickle cell trait, sickle cell anemia, and sickle cell disease have to be distinguished as clinical manifestations of drepanocytosis. They represent a special variety of a « status degenerativus » (Bauer). Four genetic types of human hemoglobin have so far been identified that differ from each other by their molecular architecture and chemical reactivity. Several constitutional abnormalities of erythropoiesis other than those just mentioned are discussed: a hereditary defect in hemoglobin synthesis; erythroid multinuclearity; acanthocytosis; Fanconi's syndrome of hypoplasia and abiotrophy of the bone marrow as another variety of a status degenerativus.