Longevity & AgingLuspatercept helps about half of transfusion-dependent lower-risk MDS patients become transfusion-free
Anemia is the main problem in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS), and many patients end up dependent on red blood cell transfusions. This first meta-analysis of luspatercept pooled 20 trials and real-world cohorts covering 3,455 patients. About 50% reached 8-week transfusion independence (TI). Rates were higher in patients with ring sideroblasts (RS+, about 58% vs 43% without) and in those with a low transfusion burden (about 73% vs 39% with a high burden). TI fell to about 36% at 24 weeks, and about 51% had an erythroid hematologic improvement. The most common side effects were peripheral edema, diarrhea, back pain, and fatigue. Serious adverse events were pooled at 28%. Heterogeneity between studies was very high, so the estimates are approximate.
