Dyserythropoiesis evaluated by the RED score and hepcidin:ferritin ratio predicts response to erythropoietin in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents are generally the first line of treatment of anemia in lower risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients. We prospectively investigated the predictive value of somatic mutations, and biomarkers of ineffective erythropoiesis including flow cytometry RED score, serum GDF-15, and hepcidin levels. Inclusion criteria were: Erythropoiesis stimulating agents naive, IPSS low or intermediate-1 MDS with Hemoglobin level 4 (p=0.05) and hepcidin/ferritin 2000 pg/ml and hepcidin/ferritin