PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROMES - SPECIFIC PROSPECTS FOR CHILDREN

Myelodysplastic syndromes may occur in rare occasions in childhood. Th ey are identified by the same morphologic features and quantitative pa rameters as those used for adults. They regularly progress to refracto ry leukemia, and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation seems to be th e best treatment at the moment. Bicytopenia not associated with anemia might be a different entity since outcome of patients is better. Chro nic myelomonocytic leukemia had the worse outcome since all children d ied, most of them after termination of leukemia.