Hospital-Based Case-Control Study of MDS Subtypes and Benzene Exposure in Shanghai

OBJECTIVE: Due to the sparse data on benzene exposure and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) subtypes, we studied this relationship in patients from 29 hospitals in Shanghai, China. METHODS: We recruited 604 cases of MDS and 1193 controls matched on age, sex, and admission date. We interviewed subjects for information on workplace and lifestyle exposures, and developed semi-quantitative exposure estimates. RESULTS: Benzene exposure showed a direct exposure–response pattern with refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia, a less certain association with refractory cytopenia with unilineage dysplasia, and no association with other MDS subtypes. A different pattern was observed with farm residence and smoking, which was primarily related to refractory anemias. CONCLUSIONS: This research demonstrates the importance of MDS subtype specification for more robust etiologic insights. Our data suggests that subtypes with non-erythroid dysplasia are associated with benzene exposure.