title: A mathematical model for the evaluation of amplitude of hemoglobin fluctuations in elderly anemic patients affected by myelodysplastic syndromes: correlation with quality of life and fatigue.
abstract: Therapy with RBC transfusions and rHuEPO for management of anemia in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes causes recurrent fluctuations in hemoglobin levels. The purpose of this study was to elaborate a mathematical model for the interpretation of hemoglobin fluctuations and to correlate the resulting numerical parameter (Variaglobin Index) with quality of life and fatigue. In 32 myelodysplastic patients, lower amplitude of the Variaglobin Index was found significantly correlated with a better quality of life and less fatigue. The mathematical model proposed here makes it easy to monitor anemia in myelodysplastic patients and to adjust therapy accordingly.
authors.affiliation: Unità operativa Centro Trapianti di Midollo Osseo, P.O. "R. Binaghi", Via Is Guadazzonis 3, 09126 Cagliari, Italy. gcaocci@alice.it
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caocci
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baccoli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ledda
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Littera
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Nasa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012984:Software; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin