Automated leukocyte parameters are useful in the assessment of myelodysplastic syndromes

Background Study utility of seven automated VCS parameters (V-volume, C-conductivity 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 high-grade 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 MDS predictor 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.