Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

Immune & Autoimmune

Overview
Symptoms
Types
Diagnosis
Treatment
Research
Resources
Stories & Profiles

Overview

Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of diseases where a person’s bone marrow fails to produce enough healthy blood cells, and instead produces immature blood cells called blasts.

At A Glance

Blood Disorders & Cancer condition

Common Signs And Symptoms

Easy Bruising Or Bleeding
Frequent Infections
Pinhead Sized Red Spots On The Skin Petechiae
Fatigue
Paleness Of Skin
Shortness Of Breath

People with myelodysplastic syndromes may experience a variety of symptoms including:

Types of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

There are two main categories of MDS: lower-risk and higher-risk. The type of MDS an individual has is defined by the number of blasts that are in their bone marrow, which determines the severity. Blasts refer to abnormal immature white blood cells, and people with MDS have too many blasts in their bone marrow.

Lower-Risk MDSLower-risk MDS is defined as having less than 5 blasts out of 100 white blood cells in the bone marrow.
Higher-Risk MDSHigher-risk MDS is defined as having between 5 and 19 blasts out of 100 white blood cells in the bone marrow.

An individual is diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) when there are 20 or more blasts per 100 white blood cells in the bone marrow.

Diagnosis Journey

The following tests can be used to confirm a diagnosis of MDS:

Blood TestsBlood tests can indicate the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a person’s blood.Biopsy of Bone MarrowA bone marrow biopsy is when a small piece of bone marrow is removed from the body so it can be further examined for diagnosis.Chromosome TestsChromosome abnormalities are common in MDS patients, therefore evidence of this can be an indicator of the condition.

Treatment Options

Treatment and management options for MDS include:

01Blood TransfusionsRegular blood transfusions help provide the patient with a healthy amount of blood cells from donors to relieve symptoms of anemia.
02Stem Cell/Bone Marrow TransplantsA bone marrow transplant gives patients healthy stem cells to replace the diseased bone marrow.
03ChemotherapyChemotherapy can help reduce the abnormal stem cells and allow healthy stem cells to grow back. MDS can progress to acute leukemia, so MDS patients may be treated with chemotherapy as that is a common treatment option for leukemia.
04Growth Factor InjectionsChemotherapy can help reduce the abnormal stem cells and allow healthy stem cells to grow back. MDS can progress to acute leukemia, so MDS patients may be treated with chemotherapy as that is a common treatment option for leukemia.
05MedicationsMedications for MDS can help stimulate blood cells to mature, control immune system, and treat infections.