Medical Conditions and Modifiable Risk Factors for Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate medical conditions and modifiable risk factors for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) using the 2001 or 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria. Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases were searched for studies published between January 2001 and August 2017. Study characteristics and findings were abstracted for each article. Results: Thirteen articles (4 cohort, 9 case-control) met the inclusion criteria. Smoking and alcohol use were each evaluated as potential MDS risk factors in four studies. Body mass index and anemia were each evaluated in two studies. Other potential risk factors evaluated in single studies included physical activity, dietary intake (tea, isoflavones, meat, fruit, or vegetables), history of allergies, autoimmune disorders and community-acquired infections, and use of antituberculosis drugs, traditional Chinese medicines, or hair dyes. Conclusions: Higher BMI, smoking, a history of autoimmune disorders, community-acquired infections, history of anemia, and use of antituberculosis drugs were associated with higher risk of MDS. Vigorous physical activity and tea and dietary isoflavone intake were associated with lower MDS risk. These findings suggest no association between the other factors and risk of MDS. Impact: Research on risk factors for MDS is limited, and further research in larger studies is needed.

Incidence of myeloid neoplasms in Spain (2002–2013): a population-based study of the Spanish network of cancer registries

“…Several subtypes have been consistently associated with treatments (i.e. radiation, alkylating agents or topoisomerase II inhibitors) 37 , while environmental epidemiological studies suggest a potential role of obesity, tobacco exposure, autoimmune disorders, and infections in myelodisplastic 38 or myeloproliferative diseases 39 . However, neither these factors, nor the genetic alterations currently described 40 , can explain the large variability in the incidence of these neoplasms 2 .…”

Síndrome mielodisplásico: aspectos básicos y abordaje diagnóstico

“…Una revisión sistemática de 33 estudios encontró una relación positiva entre el SMD y la obesidad (índice de masa corporal o IMC>30), el tabaquismo (mayor en activos con una exposición de un paquete/año o más), las enfermedades autoinmunes, la anemia, el antecedente de infecciones adquiridas en comunidad en el año previo y el antecedente de uso de fármacos antituberculosos. (15) El SMD asociado a la exposición a benceno se ha estudiado principalmente en trabajadores de la industria petrolera. Un análisis internacional que incluyó personal de Australia, Canadá y Estados Unidos, encontró un OR de 4.3 para el desarrollo de SMD en individuos con una exposición acumulada mayor a 2.93 ppm-año, respecto a aquellos con una menor o igual a 0.348 ppm-año.…”

Environmental and occupational determinants of myelodysplastic syndrome: A case–control study from Pakistan

“…However, tea and dietary isoflavone intake are associated with lower risk of acquiring MDS. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 Nevertheless, others have identified associations with inherited genetic abnormalities such as Fanconi's anaemia, bloom syndrome, ataxia telangiectasia and other haematological disorders, including paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) and congenital neutropenia. 16 , 17 Tobacco smoking is a major source of non‐occupational benzene exposure and it is well documented that cigarette smoke contains large number leukaemia causing agents of which benzene is the most relevant.…”

“…Several risk factors such as high body mass index (BMI) and obesity, less physical activity, autoimmunity are also found to have an association with the occurrence of MDS. However, tea and dietary isoflavone intake are associated with lower risk of acquiring MDS 9–15 . Nevertheless, others have identified associations with inherited genetic abnormalities such as Fanconi's anaemia, bloom syndrome, ataxia telangiectasia and other haematological disorders, including paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) and congenital neutropenia 16,17 .…”