BONE-MARROW LYMPHOCYTE SUBSETS IN MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROMES

Aim-To examine lymphocyte subsets in patients with myelodysplastic syn dromes (MDS); and to correlate immunohistological variables with progn osis. Methods-Bone marrow trephine biopsy specimens from 65 patients w ith MDS were immunophenotyped using a panel of antibodies. A minimum o f 1000 cells from representative areas of marrow sections were counted at light microscopy. The association between immunohistological varia bles and prognosis was assessed. Results-Compared with normal control marrows (n = 23) no major abnormalities of T cells (CD3), T cell subse ts (CD4, CD8, CD25, TCR gamma/delta) or natural killer cells (CD56, CD 57) were seen in the 65 patients. RAEB-t) increased numbers of B lymph ocytes compared with none in the low risk group (RA, RARS) (p < 0.0090 ). Only percentages of B cells above 3% significantly correlated with poor survival (p = 0.0121 for CD19, p = 0.046 for CD22). Conclusions-T he deviations in T lymphocyte counts seen in peripheral blood and in b one marrow aspirates could not be verified in bone marrow biopsy speci mens.