Automated leukocyte parameters are useful in the assessment of myelodysplastic syndromes

Abstract

Background: Study utility of seven automated VCS parameters (V-volume, Cconductivity and S-scatter) in leukocytes as an objective read-out of dysplasia in Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS). Methods: Peripheral blood was analyzed by Beckman-Coulter DxH800 hematology analyzer in 43 patients with low-grade, high-grade MDS and 21 control individuals. The differences in mean (MN) and standard deviation (SD) of each parameter were examined. The optimal sensitivity and specificity to predict MDS were determined by statistical analysis. Results: In neutrophils, all means of the light scatters were significantly lower in highgrade MDS than in the control group. Mean median angle light scatter (MN-MALS-NE) and mean upper median angle light scatter (MN-UMALS-NE) were significantly different between low-grade MDS and control patients. MN-MALS-NE as a MDSpredictor revealed 63% sensitivity and 67% specificity with a cutoff value of ≤133.SDs of each parameter in neutrophils differed significantly among three groups. SD of neutrophil upper median angle light scatter (SD-UMALS-NE) had 77% sensitivity and 82% specificity (cutoff value of ≥11.16) to predict MDS.Conclusions: MDS patients have a significant decrease with a linear trend in VCS parameters in neutrophils, indicating cell dysplasia. The degree of the heterogeneity measured by SD is the most predictive of MDS.

Automated Early Detection of Myelodysplastic Syndrome within the General Population Using the Research Parameters of Beckman–Coulter DxH 800 Hematology Analyzer

“…This very stringent strategy allowed for the identification of 10 critical research parameters. Interestingly, six and three of them, respectively, had been reported in the two studies described above, comparing MDS to non-MDS patients [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Issue Highlights—January 2022

“…The Letter to the Editor is focused on a publication entitled "Automated leukocyte parameters are useful in the assessment of myelodysplastic syndromes." (Shestakova et al, 2021) The authors suggest that Cytometry B readers should be made aware of two additional studies which strengthens the message about additional features available on some automated white blood cell counters. They explain that such additional features are of interest when evaluating elderly patients for MDS.…”

Issue Highlights — May 2021

“…This contrasts with more limited data that exists on the potential diagnostic utility of immunophenotyping in MPN, HES, or the altered proliferation profiles in these and other, myeloid neoplasms (Shameli et al, 2020;Ouyang et al, 2015;Herborg et al, 2018;Matarraz et al, 2012;Matarraz et al, 2011). In this issue of Cytometry B six original research papers and a case report have used flow cytometry to study MDS, MDS/MPN, MPN and HES (Shestakova et al, 2021;Davydova et al, 2021;Mestrum et al, 2021;Panda et al, 2021;Vijayasekharan et al, 2021;Hu et al, 2021;Espasa et al, 2021). In the first of these six papers, Shestakova et al (2021) explored the utility of automated leucocyte parameters including cell volume, conductivity and light scatter properties (VCS parameters) as assessed in an automated hematological analyzer, as a read-out for dysplastic MDSassociated features.…”

“…In the first of these six papers, Shestakova et al (2021) explored the utility of automated leucocyte parameters including cell volume, conductivity and light scatter properties (VCS parameters) as assessed in an automated hematological analyzer, as a read-out for dysplastic MDSassociated features. Results showed overall altered (lower and more heterogeneous) light scatter features of neutrophils in MDS (compared to controls); of note such alterations were more prominent in high-risk vs low-risk cases (Shestakova et al, 2021). In the second manuscript, Davydova et al (2021) investigated the diagnostic performance for MDS of three previously proposed flow cytometry scores (i.e., the Ogata et al score (Ogata et al, 2006), the Wells et al risk model (Chu et al, 2011) and the integrated flow cytometry score (Della Porta et al, 2012)) based on a series of 102 MDS and 83 reactive cytopenic patients, in addition to 35 healthy donors studied with a 6-color antibody panel.…”

“…In this issue of Cytometry B six original research papers and a case report have used flow cytometry to study MDS, MDS/MPN, MPN and HES (Shestakova et al, 2021; Davydova et al, 2021; Mestrum et al, 2021; Panda et al, 2021; Vijayasekharan et al, 2021; Hu et al, 2021; Espasa et al, 2021). In the first of these six papers, Shestakova et al (2021) explored the utility of automated leucocyte parameters including cell volume, conductivity and light scatter properties (VCS parameters) as assessed in an automated hematological analyzer, as a read‐out for dysplastic MDS‐associated features. Results showed overall altered (lower and more heterogeneous) light scatter features of neutrophils in MDS (compared to controls); of note such alterations were more prominent in high‐risk vs low‐risk cases(Shestakova et al, 2021).…”