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Myelodysplastic syndromes in childhood: description of seven cases

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Summary

Seven children with a primary myelodysplastic syndrome were seen at our center over a 9-year period. Two presented with refractory anemia, three with refractory anemia with excess of blasts, and two with refractory anemia with excess of blasts in transformation. All children received supportive therapy, including blood transfusions in five of them. Three patients developed acute myeloid leukemia and were treated with intensive chemotherapy, followed by allogeneic or autologous marrow transplantation in the two responders. All three died of either infection or progressive disease. The other four patients are still alive a median of 71 months (range 38–130) after diagnosis. These results confirm the difficulties in managing patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hematology, Department of Human Biopathology, University “La Sapienza”, Via Benevento 6, 1-00161, Rome, Italy

    A. Vitale, A. M. Testi, M. L. Moleti, M. Vignetti, W. Arcese, S. Fenu, M. Cedrone, L. De Felice, S. Amadori & F. Mandelli

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  1. A. Vitale
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  2. A. M. Testi
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  3. M. L. Moleti
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  4. M. Vignetti
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  5. W. Arcese
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  6. S. Fenu
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  7. M. Cedrone
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  8. L. De Felice
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  9. S. Amadori
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  10. F. Mandelli
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Supported by CNR — Progetto Finalizzato A.C.R.O. — Contract no. 9202125.PF39

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Vitale, A., Testi, A.M., Moleti, M.L. et al. Myelodysplastic syndromes in childhood: description of seven cases. Ann Hematol 68, 241–245 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01737424

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01737424

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