Characterized by a hemoglobin level of below 11 gm/dL.
Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia typically accompany anemia.
Typically less than 1% of blasts in the peripheral blood and fewer than 5% myeloblasts and <15% of ring sideroblasts in the bone marrow.
Bone marrow usually hypercellular with dyserythropoiesis, dysgranulopoiesis and megakaryocytopoiesis.
About 15% of patients have hypocellularity and marrow fibrosis in 10-15% of patients.