FLOW CYTOMETRY IN MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME- CORRELATION WITH CYTOMORPHOLOGY RESULTS

Introduction

In the absence of significant dysplasia in suspected myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), flow cytometry (FC) analysis helps to distinguish clonal cytopenia. The aim of the study was to analyse the concordance of cytomorphological characteristics and flow cytometry in patients with newly diagnosed MDS in KB Merkur in the period from March 2016 to April 2023.

Methods

We analyzed bone marrow FC in 69 patients (38 men, 31 women) who were diagnosed with MDS based on bone marrow morphology.

Results

In 57 patients (82%), the morphological diagnosis of MDS was also confirmed in the flow cytometry findings. In 11 (91%) of a total of 12 patients in whom the FC analysis did not prove MDS, no blasts were observed in the cytological findings. The expression of CD34, CD117, CD13 and CD33 (cut off 20%) was analyzed in 57 patients in whom MDS was suspected in the myelogram and FC . CD117 and CD33 did not differ between groups, regardless of MDS subtype. CD34 and CD13 was statistically significantly higher in high-risk MDS than in low-risk MDS. There was no statistically significant difference in the level of hemoglobin and expression of CD antigen, while the level of platelets correlated negatively with the level of CD117, CD13 and CD34. The expression of CD34 positively correlated with the level of C reactive protein.

Conclusions

Flow cytometry in MDS is a valuable additional method in discriminating MDS from other forms of cytopenia to improve both diagnosis and prognosis, but there is a need to establish standard techniques in everyday use.