[New WHO classification of myelodysplastic syndromes. The consequences]

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal hematopoietic disorders. Diagnosis and classification of MDS are based on morphological features of blood and bone marrow cells. The F.A.B. classification is widely used, but remains unclear in some cases of MDS. A World Health Organization (WHO) working group proposed a new classification of MDS, to improve the homogeneity of the different categories in term of physiopathology and prognosis. The new WHO classification incorporated some clinical and etiological data, and the results of cytogenetical or molecular analysis. The homologies and the differences between these two classification are showed, and the clinical consequences of the new classification are discussed.