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Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Also called: MDS

Your bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside some of your bones, such as your hip and thigh bones. It contains immature cells, called stem cells. The stem cells can develop into the red blood cells that carry oxygen through your body, the white blood cells that fight infections, and the platelets that help with blood clotting. If you have a myelodysplastic syndrome, the stem cells do not mature into healthy blood cells. Many of them die in the bone marrow. This means that you do not have enough healthy cells, which can lead to infection, anemia, or easy bleeding.

Myelodysplastic syndromes often do not cause early symptoms and are sometimes found during a routine blood test. If you have symptoms, they may include

  • Shortness of breath
  • Weakness or feeling tired
  • Skin that is paler than usual
  • Easy bruising or bleeding
  • Pinpoint spots under the skin caused by bleeding
  • Fever or frequent infections

Myelodysplastic syndromes are rare. People at higher risk are over 60, have had chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or have been exposed to certain chemicals. Treatment options include transfusions, drug therapy, chemotherapy, and blood or bone marrow stem cell transplants.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Symptoms of Myelodysplastic Syndromes

The following features are indicative of Myelodysplastic Syndromes:
  • fatigue
  • shortness of breath
  • unusual paleness due to anemia
  • unusual bruising
  • petechiae
  • frequent infections
It is possible that Myelodysplastic Syndromes shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

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Common Causes of Myelodysplastic Syndromes

The following are the most common causes of Myelodysplastic Syndromes:
  • people with history of exposure to chemotherapy or radiation
  • heavy exposure to hydrocarbons
  • children with Down syndrome
  • family history
  • mutations in the multipotent bone marrow stem cell

Risk Factors for Myelodysplastic Syndromes

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Myelodysplastic Syndromes:
  • older age
  • treatment with chemotherapy or radiation
  • exposure to certain chemicals
  • exposure to heavy metals

Prevention of Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Myelodysplastic Syndromes. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • avoid smoking
  • limiting the use of chemotherapy drugs
  • avoid known cancer-causing industrial chemicals

Occurrence of Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Myelodysplastic Syndromes cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Not common between 50K - 500K cases

Common Age Group

Myelodysplastic Syndromes can occur at any age.

Common Gender

Myelodysplastic Syndromes can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Myelodysplastic Syndromes

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Myelodysplastic Syndromes:
  • Blood tests: To measure the number of blood cells in a sample of your blood
  • Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration: To view for abnormalities in bone marrow

Doctor for Diagnosis of Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Myelodysplastic Syndromes:
  • Primary care doctor
  • Hematologist
  • Oncologist

Complications of Myelodysplastic Syndromes if untreated

Yes, Myelodysplastic Syndromes causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Myelodysplastic Syndromes is left untreated:
  • anemia
  • recurrent infections
  • bleeding that won't stop
  • increased risk of cancer

Procedures for Treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndromes

The following procedures are used to treat Myelodysplastic Syndromes:
  • Blood transfusions: To replace red blood cells, white blood cells in people with myelodysplastic syndromes
  • Bone marrow stem cell transplant: To replace the abnormal bone marrow stem cells with healthy, donated cells

Self-care for Myelodysplastic Syndromes

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Myelodysplastic Syndromes:
  • Frequently washing your hands: Lowers the risk of infections
  • Take care with food: Do not eat raw foods entirely to reduce the risk of infections
  • Avoid people who are ill: Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick

Patient Support for Treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndromes

The following actions may help Myelodysplastic Syndromes patients:
  • Supportive care: Helps in relieving the symptoms and improves the quality of life

Time for Treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndromes

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Myelodysplastic Syndromes to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • Disease cannot be treated but only maintained or effects reduced

Related Topics

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Myelodysplastic Syndromes.

Related Topics

Bone Marrow Diseases

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