A Refined Prognostic Scoring System for Myelodysplastic Syndromes: The IPSS-M

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are highly heterogeneous myeloid malignancies that range from chronic mild cytopenias to acute myeloid leukemia transformation. The current International Prognostic Scoring System – Revised (IPSS-R) utilizes hematologic parameters, including bone marrow myeloblast percentage, plus cytogenetic markers to assess patient risk. Now, an international working group proposes incorporating relevant gene mutations into the IPSS-R.

Banked pretreatment bone marrow samples were obtained from patients with primary MDS, secondary or treatment-related MDS, and MDS/MPD (myeloproliferative disorder) overlap syndromes; a myeloid blast count <20% was required for study inclusion. The investigators used a panel of 152 myeloid-rel…