Inflammation and Nutrition Scores as Prognostic Indicators in Low-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Recent research highlights the significance of inflammation and nutritional status in predicting outcomes for patients with low-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). A study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine demonstrates that scores such as the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) and systemic oxidative stress (SOS) are independently linked to patient prognosis. Specifically, a lower PNI and higher SOS scores are associated with poorer survival rates in this patient group.

Conducted by Dr. Tuba Ersal and colleagues at Bursa Uludag University in Turkey, the retrospective analysis involved 175 newly diagnosed low-risk MDS patients. The study aimed to assess the impact of inflammation, nutritional health, and oxidative stress at diagnosis on disease outcomes. Findings revealed that patients with a PNI below 47.47 experienced a significantly shorter median overall survival—approximately 45.5 months—compared to 75.1 months for those with higher PNI scores. The analysis showed that aside from established prognostic factors like age and disease severity, a low PNI and elevated SOS independently predicted worse overall survival.

Interestingly, while PNI was a strong indicator of survival, it did not correlate with progression to acute myeloid leukemia. The study also identified other independent prognostic factors, including high International Prognostic Scoring System scores, male gender, and age. The authors suggest these findings could inform potential therapeutic strategies, such as anti-inflammatory or antioxidant treatments, aimed at modifying disease progression. However, they emphasize the need for prospective, multicenter studies to confirm these results and integrate them into routine clinical practice.

This research underscores the importance of comprehensive patient assessment, including nutritional and inflammatory markers, in the management of low-risk MDS. Incorporating such scores into prognosis could enhance personalized treatment approaches and improve patient outcomes.