ISSN 2997-1036
International Journal of Hematology | Vol. 2, No. 8, August 2011 | pp. 57–64
DOI: 10.46882/2011/IJH/000020
Original Article
Title: Clinical profile and transfusion requirements of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes
Names of Authors: B. C. Akpan¹, D. E. Ibrahim², F. G. Ojo³
Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Haematology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; ²Department of Haematology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; ³Department of Paediatrics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Abstract: Myelodysplastic syndromes comprise clonal hematopoietic disorders causing chronic cytopenias and a risk of transformation into acute myeloid leukemia. This study characterized the clinical presentation, hematological features, and transfusion dependency of 54 patients diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes using the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System. The median age at presentation was 58 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.4:1. Refractory anemia with excess blasts was the most frequent subclassification, occurring in 40.7% of cases. Severe anemia (hemoglobin < 8.0 g/dl) was present in 74.1% of patients at baseline, and 61.1% exhibited chronic erythrocyte transfusion dependency, requiring a mean of 2.4 packed cell units per month. Secondary iron overload, defined by serum ferritin levels above 1000 ng/ml, developed in 37.0% of transfusion-dependent patients after a median of 18 transfusion episodes. This audit highlights a significant disease burden and a high reliance on transfusions among myelodysplastic syndrome cohorts, indicating a clear need for improved access to iron chelation and hypomethylating therapies.
Keywords: Myelodysplastic syndromes, transfusion dependency, ferritin, cytopenia, iron overload
Manuscript Timeline: Received: May 12, 2011; Revised: June 20, 2011; Accepted: July 09, 2011; Published: August 17, 2011