Myelodysplastic syndromes with ring sideroblasts ( MDS‐RS ) and MDS /myeloproliferative neoplasm with RS and thrombocytosis ( MDS/MPN‐RS‐T ) – “ 2021 update on diagnosis, risk‐stratification, and management”

Abstract Disease Overview Ring sideroblasts (RS) are erythroid precursors with abnormal perinuclear mitochondrial iron accumulation. Two myeloid neoplasms defined by the presence of RS, include myelodysplastic syndromes with RS (MDS‐RS) and MDS/myeloproliferative neoplasm with RS and thrombocytosis (MDS/MPN‐RS‐T). Diagnosis MDS‐RS is a lower risk MDS, with single or multilineage dysplasia (MDS‐RS‐SLD/MLD), <5% bone marrow (BM) blasts, <1% peripheral blood blasts and ≥15% BM RS (≥5% in the presence of SF3B1 mutations). MDS/MPN‐RS‐T, now a formal entity in the MDS/MPN overlap syndromes, has diagnostic features of MDS‐RS‐SLD, along with a platelet count ≥450 × 10 9 /L and large atypical megakaryocytes. Mutations and Karyotype Mutations in SF3B1 are seen in ≥80% of patients with MDS‐RS‐SLD and MDS/MPN‐RS‐T, and strongly correlate with the presence of BM RS; MDS/MPN‐RS‐T patients also demonstrate JAK2 V617F (50%), DNMT3A , TET2 and ASXL1 mutations. Cytogenetic abnormalities are uncommon in both. Risk Stratification Most patients with MDS‐RS‐SLD are stratified into lower risk groups by the revised‐IPSS. Disease outcome in MDS/MPN‐RS‐T is better than that of MDS‐RS‐SLD, but worse than that of essential thrombocythemia (MPN). Both diseases are associated with a low risk of leukemic transformation. Treatment Anemia and iron overload are complications seen in both and are managed similar to lower risk MDS and MPN. Luspatercept, a first‐in‐class erythroid maturation agent is now approved for the management of anemia in patients with MDS‐RS and MDS/MPN‐RS‐T. Aspirin therapy is reasonable in MDS/MPN‐RS‐T, especially in the presence of JAK2 V617F, but the value of platelet‐lowering drugs remains to be defined.