Dysmyelopoietic Features and Bone Marrow Histology in 30 Cases of Primary Myelodysplastic Syndromes

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Abstract
Thirty cases of primary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) were diagnosed according to the FAB criteria. The age ranged between 5-78 years, the median age being 38 years. Twelve (40%) patients were younger than 30 years of age. Male female ratio was 2:1. Nine cases each were diagnosed as refractory anaemia (RA) and refractory anaemia with excess of blasts (RAEB) whereas 12 were diagnosed as RAEB in transformation (RAEB-T). Significantly more RA and RAEB-T cases showed dyserythropoietic features when compared to RAEB. The frequency of dysgranulopoiesis and dysmegakaryopoiesis was similar in all 3 FAB subgroups. Abnormal localisation of immature precursors (ALIP) was present in only 36.6% of the patients and was seen in 58.3% of RAEB-T. When present it appeared to indicate a worse prognosis. Six of the 12 cases showing this finding progressed either to acute myeloblastic leukemia or from RA to RAEB or RAEB-T.