OBJECTIVETo investigate whether serum ferritin (SF) level may be used as a indicator for predicting mortality of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

METHODSA total of 151 patients with MDS were followed up in our study, their blood routine indicators, bone marrow blasts and SF level were detected. All of the patients were divided into the dead group and survival group.

RESULTSThe average survival time of all patients was 30.0 ± 10.86 months. There were statistical differences in age, IPSS score, chromosome grouping and SF level between 2 groups (P < 0.05). COX model analysis showed that age, MDS type, IPSS score, chromosome grouping and SF level all were related with mortality of patients with MDS, which were risk factors of death for patients with MDS (P < 0.05). The receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) area for SF was 0.826 with a Cut off value of 622.95, the sensitivity and specificity was 77.5% and 75% respectively. Log-rank test showed that the mortalities of patients with different levels of SF were statistically and very significantly different (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe age, IPSS score, chromosome grouping and SF level closely correct with mortality of the patients with MDS, the SF level may be considered as a predictor of death for MDS patients.