Systemic inflammatory and autoimmune manifestations associated with myelodysplastic syndromes and chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia: a French multicentre retrospective study

Objective. We describe myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)-associated systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases (SIADs), their treatments and outcomes and the impact of SIADs on overall survival in a French multicentre retrospective study. Methods. In this study, 123 patients with MDS and SIADs were analysed. Results. Mean age was 70 years (S.D. 13) and the male: female ratio was 2. The SIADs were systemic vasculitis in 39 (32%) cases, CTD in 31 (25%) cases, inflammatory arthritis in 28 (23%) cases, a neutrophilic disorder in 12 (10%) cases and unclassified in 13 cases (11%). The SIADs fulfilled the usual classification criteria in 75 (66%) cases, while complete criteria were not reached in 21 (19%) cases. A significant association was shown between chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) and systemic vasculitis (P = 0.0024). One hundred and eighteen (96%) SIAD patients were treated (91% with steroids), with an 83% response to first-line treatment, including 80% for steroids alone. A second-line treatment for SIADs was required for steroid dependence or relapse in 48% of cases. The effect of MDS treatment on SIADs could be assessed in 11 patients treated with azacytidine and SIAD response was achieved in 9/11 (80%) and 6/11 (55%) patients at 3 and 6 months, respectively. Compared with 665 MDS/CMML patients without SIADs, MDS/CMML patients with SIADs were younger (P< 0.01), male (P = 0.03), less often had refractory anaemia with ring sideroblasts (P< 0.01), more often had a poor karyotype (16% vs 11%, P = 0.04) and less frequently belonged to low and intermediate-1 International Prognostic Scoring System categories, but no survival difference was seen between patients with MDS-associated SIADs and without SIADs (P = 0.5). Conclusion. The spectrum of SIADs associated to MDS is heterogeneous, steroid sensitive, but often steroid dependent.