Interpretation of World Health Organization reclassification of myelodysplastic syndromes: reports from the 57th American Society of Hematology annual meeting

Progress of World Health Organization (WHO) reclassification of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in the 57th American Society of Hematology annual meetings were reviewed. A revision to the 4th edition of the WHO classification of MDS will be enacted in mid-2016. Based on recommendations of the Clinical Advisory Committee, proposals for change included abandoning the routine names of 'refractory anemia/cytopenia', expressing the prognostic significance of gene mutations in MDS, revising the diagnostic criteria for MDS entities with ring sideroblasts based on the detection of SF3B1 mutations, modifying the cytogenetic criteria for MDS with isolated del(5q), reclassifying the erythroid/myeloid type of acute erythroleukemia, and recognizing the familial link in some cases of MDS. Key words: Myelodysplastic syndromes; World Health Organization classification; American Society of Hematology annual meeting