Cytogenetic profiling by FISH microscopy and comparison with light microscopy and complete blood count findings in myelodysplastic syndrome.

Karyotype, bone marrow blast percentage and cytopenia influence the prognosis of myelodysplastic syndrome. We studied the abnormalities detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in myelodysplastic syndrome and associated haematological profile with abnormalities detected by FISH. Complete blood counts, peripheral blood and bone marrow of patients were evaluated for cytopenia, dysplasia and blasts. FISH probes were used to detect del(5q), gain of chromosome 8, de (7q/-7) and del(20 q). Multiple regression analysis was used to study the association of FISH abnormalities, age and sex with haematological profile. Mc Nemar's test studied the relationship between FISH abnormalities and dysplastic features in bone marrow. Cytogenetic abnormalities were detected by FISH in 25.7% of patients. Del(20 q) was seen in 14.2% of patients. FISH was able to predict changes in peripheral blood blast count by 80% (p ˂ 0.0001). Cytogenetic abnormalities were not seen in 74.2% of patients. Groups with FISH abnormalities have a different haematological profile, and these abnormalities have a significant effect on blast percentage.