Being transfusion dependent is a associated with a worse prognosis for myelodysplasia. It is also associated with greater risk for iron overload.
Criteria for transfusion dependence:
(1) history of > 2 units of red blood cell transfused per month
(2) pretransfusion hemoglobin < 8.5 g/dL
(3) anemia is not due to clinically overt bleeding
where:
• Some use >= 2 units of red blood cells per month.
One criterion for clinical improvement is becoming transfusion independent.
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Specialty: Hematology Oncology, Clinical Laboratory
