Hospital-Based Case-Control Study of MDS Subtypes and Benzene Exposure in Shanghai.
Due to the sparse data on benzene exposure and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) subtypes, we studied this relationship in patients from 29 hospitals in Shanghai, China.



We recruited 604 cases of MDS and 1193 controls matched on age, sex, and admission date. We interviewed subjects for information on workplace and lifestyle exposures, and developed semi-quantitative exposure estimates.



Benzene exposure showed a direct exposure-response pattern with refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia, a less certain association with refractory cytopenia with unilineage dysplasia, and no association with other MDS subtypes. A different pattern was observed with farm residence and smoking, which was primarily related to refractory anemias.



This research demonstrates the importance of MDS subtype specification for more robust etiologic insights. Our data suggests that subtypes with non-erythroid dysplasia are associated with benzene exposure.
ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc. (Drs Copley, Schnatter, Chen); TWA8HR Occupational Hygiene Consulting (Dr Armstrong), New Jersey; Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, China (Drs Irons, Wang, Kerzic); University of Colorado Anshutz Medical Center, Colorado (Dr Irons).
G Bruce
GB
Copley
A Robert
AR
Schnatter
Thomas W
TW
Armstrong
Richard D
RD
Irons
Min
M
Chen
Xiao Qin
XQ
Wang
Patrick
P
Kerzic
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D001554:Benzene / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D066192:Manufacturing Industry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010969:Plastics; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012408:Rubber; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014186:Transportation
D010969:Plastics; D012408:Rubber; D001554:Benzene