The myelodysplastic syndromes: predictive value of eight prognostic systems in 143 cases from a single institution.

Background And Objective: Despite the fact that several prognostic systems for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have been proposed, few studies have been designed to test their effectiveness in independent patient populations. The aim of this study was to compare the prognostic value of 8 previously described prognostic systems in a series of consecutive MDS patients observed at a single institution over a 10-year period.

Design And Methods: One hundred and forty-three patients were diagnosed as having myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) according to the French-American-British (FAB) criteria.

Cyclosporin-A in severe refractory anemia of myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia: a preliminary report.

Background And Objective: Severe anemia is the outstanding problem in approximately 50 percent of patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM). The present trial was based on the considerations that abnormal immune responses are frequently associated with MMM and that cyclosporin A (Cy-A) has proven to be effective in improving anemia in autoimmune disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Cy-A on anemia of MMM.

Red blood cell precursor mass as an independent determinant of serum erythropoietin level.

Serum erythropoietin (sEpo) concentration is primarily related to the rate of renal production and, under the stimulus of hypoxia, increases exponentially as hemoglobin (Hb) decreases. Additional factors, however, appear to influence sEpo, and in this work, we performed studies to evaluate the role of the red blood cell precursor mass. We first compared the relationship of sEpo with Hb in patients with low versus high erythroid activity.