Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What are myelodysplastic syndromes? " пїЅ Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of conditions that involve the blood. Blood is made up of different types of cells. These cells are made in the middle of the bones, in a part called the bone marrow. пїЅ пїЅ

When people have MDS, their bone marrow does not work normally. It makes abnormal blood cells and does not make enough normal blood cells. This can cause symptoms. пїЅ пїЅ

What are the symptoms of MDS? " пїЅ Some people with MDS have no symptoms. They might find out that they have MDS after they have blood tests for another reason. пїЅ пїЅ

Other people do have symptoms. They might: пїЅ пїЅ

Feel weak, tired, or dizzy
Have trouble thinking clearly
Have trouble breathing
Bruise or bleed more easily than usual
Get infections more easily than usual

Is there a test for MDS? " пїЅ Yes. To test for MDS, your doctor or nurse can do: пїЅ пїЅ

Blood tests
Bone marrow biopsy " пїЅ During this procedure, a doctor removes a very small sample of the bone marrow. Then another doctor looks at the cells under a microscope to see if abnormal cells are present.

There are different types of MDS. Your doctor will use your test results to figure out which type you have. пїЅ пїЅ

How is MDS treated? " пїЅ The right treatment for you will depend, for the most part, on the type of MDS you have, your symptoms, and your age. Most treatments do not cure MDS. But treatments can improve symptoms and help people feel better. пїЅ пїЅ

Doctors usually treat MDS with 1 or more of the following: пїЅ пїЅ

Blood transfusions " пїЅ A blood transfusion is when a person gets blood that was given (donated) by another person.
Medicines " пїЅ Doctors can use different types of medicines to treat MDS. These medicines work in different ways. Some medicines help the bone marrow make more blood cells. Other medicines affect the bodys infection-fighting system.
Chemotherapy " пїЅ Chemotherapy is the term doctors use to describe a group of medicines that kill abnormal cells.
Bone marrow transplant " пїЅ This treatment uses chemotherapy or another treatment called radiation to kill the abnormal cells in the bone marrow. These dead cells are then replaced with "donor " пїЅ cells. The "donor " пїЅ cells can come from different places. They usually come from people whose blood matches yours. Bone marrow transplant is the only treatment that can cure MDS.

Your doctor or nurse might also talk with you about being in a clinical trial. A clinical trial is a research study that uses volunteers to test new treatments or new combinations of current treatments. пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 16328 Version 3.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.206 пїЅ пїЅ

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Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

The Basics

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

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