Plasma as a source of mRNA for determining IgVH mutation status in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: years of McCrae's (not Auer's) rodsIt was delightful to see the recent Images in Haematology article highlight the seminal observation of the profoundly important morphologic feature of 'rod-like' bodies within the cytoplasm of leukaemic cells (Oram & Parker, 2006).However, there are two elements of this report which may warrant correction for historical accuracy.Firstly, as acknowledged by Auer himself (Auer, 1906), this was an early example of duplicate publication, as the original case, including the observation that '…some of the mononuclears showed red-staining bodies in the cytoplasm.These were at times rod-like… with rounded ends…' had been published 16 months earlier in the British literature by Thomas McCrae (McCrae, 1905).Furthermore, 'almost all of the clinical notes given in this paper I owe to the kindness of Dr McCrae' (Auer, 1906).It is unknown whether McCrae intended his kindness to include the transfer of naming rights to these structures in perpetuity.As the original contract documents cannot be located, perhaps, we should be generous enough to use the name 'McCrae -Auer rods'.Secondly, it is noteworthy to record that while both McCrae and Auer designated the involved case as 'acute lymphatic leukaemia' (McCrae, 1905, Auer, 1906), and a report 'confirming' the association of these structures with ALL soon followed (Ottenberg, 1909), Auer himself admitted that '… these cells looked somewhat like myelocytes' (Auer, 1906), it was not until 1910 that the first case of Auer rods in acute myeloid leukaemia was published (Isaac & Cobliner, 1910).The demonstration of their oxidase positivity (Rosenthal, 1917) established the myeloid-lineage restriction of Auer rods.A more detailed discussion of the historical aspects of Auer rods have previously been published (Seymour & Estey, 1995).It is sobering to reflect on the power and influence of a wisely selected and carefully observed case report, to consider circumstances where duplicate publication has given important data appropriate exposure, and to ponder what current wisdom we may be missing the opportunity to record and share due to the near extinction of the case report from contemporary medical literature.
Source: British Journal of Haematology
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2087010533