Abstract • 98

A severe aregenerative anemia (Hb : 3.5g/dL) detected in a female fetus resulted in 2 antenatal exchange transfusions at 28 and 31 weeks gestational age (GA). The newborn delivered at 35 weeks GA had to be transfused at birth and entered thereafter a regular transfusion program. Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia (CDA) type I was confirmed by electron microscopy "swiss cheese" typical abnormality of the heterochromatin. At 14 months of age, after 15 post-natal red blood cell transfusions, serum ferritin was 1300ng/mL. Interferon α therapy (IFNα) (subcutaneous; 3M U/week) resulted in a sustained rise in reticulocyte and in Hb values ≥ 11 g/dL, allowing transfusion independence (follow-up : 4 months). IFNα beneficial effect in CDA type I has been reported after the fortuitous observation of a patient who presented with both the disease and chronic hepatitis C. The mechanisms which lead IFNα to restore erythropoiesis remain a matter of speculation.