Abstract

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to assess the accuracy of the most widely-accepted prognostic classification systems in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and to investigate various parameters with respect to their association with MDS progression.

METHODS

Fifty-five patients diagnosed with MDS (January 1999 to December 2012) were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, laboratory and pathological results, risk classifications (pathological and prognostic) at MDS diagnosis, treatment features, data regarding patient survival, and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) conversion were examined.

RESULTS

Thirty-five male and 20 female patients (mean age: 70.95±9.80 years) were included. Twenty-four (43.46%) patients were defined to have had progression. Having an ECOG-PS score of ≥2 (OR: 6.939, 95% CI: 1.527-31.526; p=0.012) and being classified as ‘high’ or ‘very high’ risk according to the WPSS (OR: 10.115, 95% CI: 2.293-44.614; p=0.002) were found to be the only factors independently associated with MDS progression.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Although univariate differences were observed for various parameters, MDS progression was independently associated with ECOG-PS and WPSS class. It appears that singular classification systems are insufficient to predict MDS progression.