Evaluation of the prognostic significance of eosinophilia and basophilia in a larger cohort of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.
BACKGROUND
Lineage involvement and maturation arrest are considered to have prognostic significance in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). However, although the prognostic value of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and monocytosis have been documented, little is known about the impact of eosinophils and basophils.


METHODS
The authors examined the prognostic significance of eosinophils and basophils in 1008 patients with de novo MDS. Patients were enrolled from 3 centers of the Austrian-German MDS Working Group and were analyzed retrospectively. Blood eosinophils and basophils were quantified by light microscopy, and their impact on survival and leukemia-free survival was calculated by using Cox regression.


RESULTS
Eosinophilia (eosinophils >350/microL) and basophilia (basophils >250/microL) predicted a significantly reduced survival (P < .05) without having a significant impact on leukemia-free survival. In multivariate analysis, eosinophilia and basophilia were identified as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-independent prognostic variables with International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS)-specific impact. Although elevated LDH was identified as a major prognostic determinant in IPSS low-risk, intermediate-1 risk, and high-risk subgroups, the condition "eosinophilia and/or basophilia" was identified as a superior prognostic indicator in the IPSS intermediate-2 risk subgroup.


CONCLUSIONS
The evaluation of eosinophils and basophils in patients with MDS was helpful and may complement the spectrum of variables to optimize prognostication in MDS.
Wimazal
Friedrich
F
Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Germing
Ulrich
U
Kundi
Michael
M
Noesslinger
Thomas
T
Blum
Sabine
S
Geissler
Philipp
P
Baumgartner
Christian
C
Pfeilstoecker
Michael
M
Valent
Peter
P
Sperr
Wolfgang R
WR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001491:Basophils; D018450:Disease Progression; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007960:Leukocyte Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment