Use of steroids in the management of low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes with autoimmune features.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The boundaries between myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and immune-mediated cytopenias are often difficult to establish and both conditions may benefit from immunosuppressive therapy. The optimal timing and doses of immunosuppressants are largely unknown.

Materials and methods

We systematically evaluated a retrospective cohort of 79 patients with low-risk MDS tested for anti-erythrocyte or anti-platelet autoantibodies to assess their frequency and the efficacy of immunosuppression, particularly with steroids.

Results

We found autoantibody positivity in 43% of cases and overt autoimmune diseases in 18%, including autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thromboctyopenia, and Evans syndrome. Steroid treatment improved cytopenia in about half of patients, with 26% a

SUBMITTER: Fattizzo B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10497380 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature