Your MDS Profile provides the information needed to estimate your prognosis, including the risk of developing acute leukemia. Two of the most important criteria used to estimate prognosis are your Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) and the molecular profile for your MDS.

The IPSS-R has been developed by a group of International MDS experts representing 11 countries and 7,012 patients. These data have been used to estimate life expectancy (survival) for a patient newly diagnosed with MDS without treatment and the risk of developing acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The risk category (measure of severity) is estimated using results from the bone marrow biopsy and aspirate, including cytogenetics and the peripheral blood draw (CBC, differential and platelet count).

The molecular attributes of MDS, molecules (usually proteins) in the MDS cells or the bone marrow microenvironment (where the cells originate and grow) play a role in how cells function normally. Many diseases, including MDS, have abnormal proteins because of gene changes called mutations. Some of these mutations are thought to play a part in the development of MDS and, in some cases, the response to treatments for MDS. Gene mutations can be detected by molecular analysis, that can complement cytogenetic analysis in MDS.

Ask your health care providers about your IPSS-R Score. Visit the Building Blocks of Hope to Learn more about your MDS Profile. It is important to know that these criteria are used to guide treatment selection and to guide patient and caregiver counseling about your prognosis and the best options for treatment of your MDS.