The purpose of this study was to evaluate normal values of healthy human bone marrow (n = 56) and identify gender- and age-related variations using cell lineage markers and maturational curves. Using 10-color quantitative flow cytometry, various cell types were identified, including B cells, T cells, NK cells, granulocytes, monocytes, erythroblasts, plasma cells, basophils, mast cells, and dendritic cells. Results revealed significant age-related declines in the absolute counts of nucleated cells (p = 0.001), including CD34+ immature B cells (p = 0.006) and CD34- immature B cells (p = 0.004). Declines were also observed for T cells (p = 0.002), cytotoxic T cells (p < 0.001), double-negative T cells (p = 0.0001), NK cells (p = 0.007), CD16- NK cells (p < 0.001), metamyelocytes (p = 0.002), neutrophils (p = 0.001), basophils (p = 0.009), promonocytes (p = 0.001), mature monocytes (p = 0.007), and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (p = 0.001). Gender differences showed males had more intermediate monocytes (p = 0.009) compared to females. In summary, this study provides normal values for hematopoietic cells, highlighting age- and gender-related disparities critical for understanding hematopoietic dynamics.

To validate multilineage score system correlating results of flow cytometry, cytogenetics, cytomorphology and histology from samples of patients with suspected myelodysplastic syndrome or cytopenia of unknown origin. A retrospective study analyzing laboratory data of 49 patients with suspected myelodysplastic syndrome or cytopenia of unknown origin, carried out between May and September 2017. The inclusion criteria were availability of flow cytometry results, and at least one more method, such as morphology, histology or cytogenetics. Thirty-eight patients were classified as diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes, whereas 11 were classified as normal. Patients were evaluated based on score systems, Ogata score and flow cytometry multilineage score. Comparing the scores obtained in the Ogata score and the multilineage score, it was observed that in four cases the Ogata score was zero or 1 point, while the multilineage score was higher than 3 points. In addition, in 12 cases with Ogata score of 2, the multilineage score was greater than 3. The flow cytometry multilineage score system demonstrated to be more effective in dysplasia analysis, by assessing the erythroid, monocytic, granulocytic and precursor cell lineages, apart from the parameters evaluated by the Ogata score.