Myelodysplastic Syndrome

About Myelodysplastic Syndrome

• Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of cancers in which immature blood cells in the bone marrow do not develop into healthy, mature blood cells.
• What happen in myelodysplastic syndrome: In a person with myelodysplastic syndrome, blood stem cells do not properly develop into mature red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets in the bone marrow.
  • These immature blood cells are called blasts, and they do not work properly. The blasts either die in the bone marrow or die soon after they enter the blood.
  • As a result, there is less space in the bone marrow for healthy red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to develop.
  • When the number of healthy blood cells decreases, the person may develop infections, anemia, or easy bleeding.
• Symptoms: It includes shortness of breath and feeling tired.
• Types of Myelodysplastic Syndrome: It has various types such as Refractory anemia and its various types, Refractory cytopenia and its various types, Unclassifiable myelodysplastic syndrome, Myelodysplastic syndrome with isolated del(5q) chromosome abnormality and Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML).
• Most myelodysplastic syndromes are not inherited or passed down from parents; instead, they are caused by changes (mutations) in DNA within blood cells that happen the course of lifetime.
• Diagnose: The different types of myelodysplastic syndromes are diagnosed based on certain changes in the blood cells and bone marrow.
• Treatment: It includes supportive care, drug therapy, and Chemotherapy with stem cell transplant.