From the prognostic point of view, an abnormally low PI of non-lymphoid CD34+ cells and NRBC were both associated with a significantly longer OS and decreased risk of transformation to AL, even when early/low-risk and advanced/high-risk MDS patients were separately considered, the PI of NRBC emerging as an independent prognostic factor for both OS and PFS in MDS. Here, CD34 is linked to myelodysplastic syndrome.