| The Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is an | | | | stream. Myelodysplastic syndromes occur most |
| abnormality of the bone marrow, which gradually | | | | often in older people, but they can occur in |
| affects the producton of healthy blood cells. The | | | | younger people. Some younger people with |
| most common sign is anemia, which means there | | | | myelodysplastic syndromes who are in otherwise |
| are too few mature red blood cells to carry | | | | good health may be candidates for a bone |
| oxygen. The immature blood cells, called blasts, do | | | | marrow transplant, which may help prolong life. |
| not function normally and either die in the bone | | | | Causes of Myelodysplastic syndromes |
| marrow or soon after they enter the blood. In | | | | The common causes and risk factor's of |
| myelodysplastic syndromes, the stem cells do not | | | | Myelodysplastic syndromes include the following: |
| mature into healthy red blood cells, white blood | | | | The exact cause of Myelodysplastic syndromes is |
| cells, or platelets. Myelodysplastic syndromes can | | | | not known. |
| be classified as primary (no known exposure) or | | | | Viral infections. |
| secondary as a complication of aggressive | | | | Past treatment with chemotherapy or radiation |
| treatment of other cancers with exposure to | | | | therapy. |
| radiation, alkylating agents, or topoisomerase II | | | | Compounds such as benzene. |
| inhibitors and heavily pretreated patients with | | | | Smoking. |
| autologous bone marrow transplants. Many of the | | | | Certain congenital diseases. |
| blood cells formed are defective. These abnormal | | | | Previous topoisomerase inhibitor (rare) |
| blood cells are usually destroyed before they | | | | administration may be a factor. |
| leave the bone marrow or shortly after entering | | | | Symptoms of Myelodysplastic syndromes |
| the bloodstream. Each year between 15,000 and | | | | Some sign and symptoms related to |
| 20,000 new cases of MDS are diagnosed in the | | | | Myelodysplastic syndromes are as follows: |
| United States. The original classification of MDS | | | | Anemia. |
| was developed more than 20 years ago at an | | | | Shortness of breath. |
| international conference attended mostly by | | | | Bleeding or bruising. |
| doctors from France, the United States, and | | | | Fever or frequent infections. |
| Great Britain. No truly effective treatment exists | | | | Fever. |
| for most people with myelodysplastic syndromes, | | | | Susceptibility to infections. |
| and therapy for myelodysplastic syndromes | | | | Malaise, and a general feeling of tiredness. |
| usually focuses on reducing or preventing | | | | Abnormal granules in cells, abnormal nuclear shape |
| complications of the disease and of treatments. | | | | and size. |
| A myelodysplastic syndrome may develop | | | | Chest pain. |
| following treatment with drugs or radiation | | | | Treatment of Myelodysplastic syndromes |
| therapy for other diseases, or it may develop | | | | Here is list of the methods for treating |
| without any known cause. The disease is often | | | | Myelodysplastic syndromes: |
| not diagnosed until the patient is seen by a | | | | People with high risk myelodysplasia may only |
| hematologist, and cannot be definitively diagnosed | | | | need supportive treatment to help improve any |
| until a bone marrow sample taken from the | | | | symptoms caused by low blood counts. |
| patient is examined by an expert hematologist or | | | | Central line access is often needed for |
| hematopathologist. Many patients with | | | | chemotherapy and transfusion. |
| myelodysplastic syndromes suffer from a variety | | | | Transfusion therapy: People with anemia induced |
| of symptoms caused by low blood counts. Other | | | | by myelodysplastic syndromes are likely to |
| patients have no symptoms at all. MDS is | | | | receive transfusions of red blood cells, which help |
| classified into groups according to findings on | | | | relieve anemia and fatigue. |
| peripheral blood smear, bone marrow histology, | | | | Bone marrow transplantation provides a curative |
| and clinical findings. The bone marrow in | | | | option for some patients. |
| myelodysplastic syndrome is typically more active | | | | Drips (transfusions) of blood or platelets can be |
| than normal and yet the numbers of blood cells in | | | | given to help improve symptoms. |
| the circulation are reduced. This is because most | | | | Antibiotics may also be needed to treat or |
| of the cells being produced in the bone marrow | | | | prevent infection. This is often known as |
| are defective and are destroyed before they | | | | supportive treatment. |
| leave the bone marrow to enter the blood | | | | |