抄録
In order to evaluate the classification for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) proposed by FAB Co-operative Group, a retrospective follow-up study was performed in 59 patients with MDS. These patients were classified by the initial hematological findings according to FAB criteria into 5 types of MDS as follows: 17 cases of refractory anemia (RA), 9 cases of RA with ring sideroblasts (RARS), 15 cases of RA with excess of blasts (RAEB), 5 cases of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) and 13 cases of RAEB in transformation (RAEB-T). Evolution to overt leukemia had occurred in 4 cases (23%) of RA, 1 case (11%) of RARS, 9 cases (60%) of RAEB, 2 cases (40%) of CMML and 9 cases (69%) of RAEB-T. Duration from diagnosis to overt leukemia was 9 months in RAEB and 3 months in RAEB-T. The present results showing good correlation between the type of disease and the clinical course in MDS prove propriety of the FAB classification. Although there are some problems to be solved, FAB classification is a useful tool with which to estimate the prognosis of MDS patients.
