title: Definitions and standards in the diagnosis and treatment of the myelodysplastic syndromes: Consensus statements and report from a working conference.
abstract: The classification, scoring systems, and response criteria for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have recently been updated and have become widely accepted. In addition, several new effective targeted drugs for patients with MDS have been developed. The current article provides a summary of updated and newly proposed markers, criteria, and standards in MDS, with special reference to the diagnostic interface and refinements in evaluations and scoring. Concerning the diagnostic interface, minimal diagnostic criteria for MDS are proposed, and for patients with unexplained cytopenia who do not fulfill these criteria, the term 'idiopathic cytopenia of uncertain significance' (ICUS) is suggested. In addition, new diagnostic and prognostic parameters, histopathologic and immunologic determinants, proposed refinements in scoring systems, and new therapeutic approaches are discussed. Respective algorithms and recommendations should facilitate diagnostic and prognostic evaluations in MDS, selection of patients for therapies, and the conduct of clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Hematology & Hemostaseology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. peter.valent@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valent
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Horny
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fonatsch
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Germing
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haferlach
authors.forename: Detlef
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Haase
authors.forename: Hans-Jochen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kolb
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Krieger
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loken
authors.forename: Arjan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van de Loosdrecht
authors.forename: Kiyoyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orfao
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pfeilstöcker
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rüter
authors.forename: Wolfgang R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Sperr
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stauder
authors.forename: Denise A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis