Contributions
Type: Publication Only
Background
Most myelodysplastic (MDS) patients have anemia and many of them require red blood cells (RBC) transfusions leading to iron overload. Hematological improvement (HI) during iron chelation therapy (ICT) was first pointed out more than twenty years ago. This phenomenon seems to be more frequent after introduction of Deferasirox. The most simple test assessing iron overload is serum ferritin concentration.
Aims
Assessment of hyperferritinemia incidence in MDS patients at the moment of MDS diagnosis, and correlation between ferritin level and AML transformation in patients diagnosed with MDS.
Methods
The retrospective data collection from a single center experience (Department of Hematology County Hospital, Timisoara, Romania) between December 2003 and December 2012 included 121 patients (68 men and 53 women) with MDS. All the patients had complete blood count and serum ferritin level, and complete follow-up data.
Results
Ferritin level above 1000 ng/mL was found in 38 patients (31%) (Group 1) and ferritin level ≤1000 ng/mL in 83 patients (69%) (Group 2). Most patients with significant hiperferritinemia, were RBC transfusion dependent (81% of patients). Among patients with ferritin level ≤1000 ng/mL, 38% were RBC transfusion dependent. Serum hemoglobin concentration was lower in Group 1 patients in comparison with Group 2 patients (7,5 g/dL vs 9,4 g/dL, p< 0,001). The most frequent MDS subtype in Group 1, were patients with refractory anemia (RA) (30%), compared with patients with ferritin ≤1000 ng/mL - 15% (p<0,04). According to IPSS score, there were no differences between studied groups. Median follow up was 12 months. There was an improved overall survival (OS) in RBC transfusion independent patients compared to RBC transfusion dependent patients, but mean OS was not significantly statistically different in studied groups. No correlation was found between ferritin level and time to AML transformation.
Summary
Hiperferritinemia >1000 ng/mL does not influence survival and time to AML transformation in MDS patients. The most frequent MDS subtype in patients with ferritin level>1000 ng/mL was MDS RA. Among patients with ferritin level >1000 ng/mL, 81% were RBC dependent.
Type: Publication Only
Background
Most myelodysplastic (MDS) patients have anemia and many of them require red blood cells (RBC) transfusions leading to iron overload. Hematological improvement (HI) during iron chelation therapy (ICT) was first pointed out more than twenty years ago. This phenomenon seems to be more frequent after introduction of Deferasirox. The most simple test assessing iron overload is serum ferritin concentration.
Aims
Assessment of hyperferritinemia incidence in MDS patients at the moment of MDS diagnosis, and correlation between ferritin level and AML transformation in patients diagnosed with MDS.
Methods
The retrospective data collection from a single center experience (Department of Hematology County Hospital, Timisoara, Romania) between December 2003 and December 2012 included 121 patients (68 men and 53 women) with MDS. All the patients had complete blood count and serum ferritin level, and complete follow-up data.
Results
Ferritin level above 1000 ng/mL was found in 38 patients (31%) (Group 1) and ferritin level ≤1000 ng/mL in 83 patients (69%) (Group 2). Most patients with significant hiperferritinemia, were RBC transfusion dependent (81% of patients). Among patients with ferritin level ≤1000 ng/mL, 38% were RBC transfusion dependent. Serum hemoglobin concentration was lower in Group 1 patients in comparison with Group 2 patients (7,5 g/dL vs 9,4 g/dL, p< 0,001). The most frequent MDS subtype in Group 1, were patients with refractory anemia (RA) (30%), compared with patients with ferritin ≤1000 ng/mL - 15% (p<0,04). According to IPSS score, there were no differences between studied groups. Median follow up was 12 months. There was an improved overall survival (OS) in RBC transfusion independent patients compared to RBC transfusion dependent patients, but mean OS was not significantly statistically different in studied groups. No correlation was found between ferritin level and time to AML transformation.
Summary
Hiperferritinemia >1000 ng/mL does not influence survival and time to AML transformation in MDS patients. The most frequent MDS subtype in patients with ferritin level>1000 ng/mL was MDS RA. Among patients with ferritin level >1000 ng/mL, 81% were RBC dependent.