Validation of the 2016 revisions to the WHO classification in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome

In this study, we assessed the prognostic value of the revised 2016 WHO system in a series of MDS patients with <5% blasts and diploid karyotype. The WHO systems do not use karyotype to define subtypes other than del(5q). However, the karyotype is highly prognostic in MDS and can independently affect outcome; further, the prognostic effect of different cytogenetic abnormalities varies. In order to assess the prognostic value of MDS categories in the revised 2016 WHO system and eliminate the confounding effects of various karyotypes, we applied this system in a uniform cohort composed of consecutive MDS patients with <5% blasts with diploid karyotype by conventional cytogenetic analysis.