Primary acquired sideroblastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndrome from a geriatric point of view.

The median age of occurrence of primary acquired sideroblastic anemia is 74.4 years, with a range of 12 to 96 years (calculated from 452 cases). Of 445 cases, 60.4% were male, and 39.6% female. Not only primary acquired sideroblastic anemia, but the entire myelodysplastic syndrome must be considered as a disease of old age.