Table II.
Differential diagnosis of DBA versus TEC.*
| Diamond Blackfan anaemia (DBA) | Transient erythroblastopenia of childhood (TEC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pure red cell aplasia | Present | Present |
| Age | Younger than 1 year | Older than 1 year |
| Inheritance | Sporadic and dominant inheritance | Not inherited |
| Congenital anomalies | Present | Absent |
| Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) | Elevated | Normal |
| HbF | Elevated | Normal |
| i RBC antigen | Present | Absent |
| Erythrocyte ADA (eADA) activity | Elevated | Normal |
All RBC characteristics except eADA activity are helpful only when tested in a reticulocytopenic child. During recovery from TEC, a transient wave of fetal-like erythropoiesis with elevated MCV, HbF, and i RBC antigen may be detected. This testing is valid in untransfused children only.
*Modified with permission from Dessypris and Lipton, 2003.
Based on data from Link and Alter, 1981.